Wake Up, Clevedon!

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 295, 24 July 1917, Page 1

Wake Up, Clevedon!

| To the Editor] Sir,—l am very sorry that Mr Munro replied to my letter in such a strain. If he took the trouble to read my contribution carefully he would see it was not all mud slinging but a few suggestions that would perhaps benefit us in our future socials. In a clumsy effort to shield his Committee Mr Munro made statements that I venture to criticise. The reference to trumpery presents was unfortunate, being a reflection on gifts made by other patriotic committees, besides ignoring the fact that the value of a present to the receiver is not gauged by a mere matter of cost. Your correspondent also appears to take great satisfaction from the fact that a sum of money is lying in the bank to be used to meet the needs of returned men. Everyone will be pleased to know that such a fund does exist but this is no credit to Mr Munro and his fellow committeemen I understand the proposal came from tne Rev W. C. Wood in the first instance and further that even this fund would have been lost to the returned men and given to the Queen Carnival fund but for the resolute action of the late Mr McKnight and others. I would further challenge your correspondent's statement that every soldier has received a send-off. The majority of those given were organised by their own mates, but several owing to one cause or other left without a send-off. I do not write with tny hostility to the newly formed C immittee but in the hope that their efforts will be more up-to-date. In conclusion I would remind Mr Munro that my complaint not only concerns the character of the sendoffs, but the fact that the 27th Reinforcements left for camp without any such committee being formed I would now like to ask is the zeal displayed by Mr Munro and others in arranging send-offs for the lad of the First Division inspired by an expectation of their own send-off as Second Division men ? I am, etc , Survivor of the Dust Storm.