RED CROSS CONVALESCENT HOME.

Southland Times, Issue 18822, 15 May 1920, Page 2

RED CROSS CONVALESCENT HOME.

To the Editor. Sir,—On reading Mr R. A. Anderson’s vindication of the executive of the Red Cross Society’s management of the Soldiers’ Convalescent Home which appeared in your issue of May 1 two points in the letter particularly attracted my attention. First, the Defence Department have practically refused to carry on the Home because of lack of patients. Now sir, in my opinion, there will be an ever increasing need for a Home such as this. Men who came home in the earlier drafts and secured their discharge (in most cases with quite inadequate pensions) having to work hard to eke out a living with the aid of the pension are finding out their disabilities and in at least one case I know of, has had to give up work (having in the meantime undergone a serious operation at his own expense). What is to be done in such cases as this if this Home is closed? Second, Mr Anderson suggests to the public the advisability of diverting the whole amount remaining to be spent on motor ambulances to be placed in different parts of the country etc. Now, sir, this money was subscribed by the people of Southland for a definite object namely, the benefit of returned soldiers in ill health. No money raised for a definite purpose should be diverted from that purpose without consulting the subscribers and leaving to them the final decision in the matter. Hoping to see the public take this matter up in the interest of our disabled soldiers, —I am, etc., “OBSERVER.”