A FIRST DUTY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 73, 15 August 1914, Page 2

A FIRST DUTY.

To the Editor. Sir, —Before the fever grows worse, may I offer a suggestion to our folks who are so anxious to do .their share in preserving the stability -'of the Empire? I trust that the claims of the little shopkeepers and little business men, such as the milkman, and so on, will not be overlooked. I remember that when the "More Men Fund" was mounting up in the Boer war time, n man whose name figured on a subscription list was thereby located by his wife, whom he had deserted, and lie /Was made to shoulder his responsibilities. It is small satisfaction to the "little man" to see that Mr. So-and-So has patriotically promised a few guineas to the war fund if the "little man" has failed for months to collect a few shillings from the generous one. One way of helping New Zealand to tide over the present crisis is for the people who can do so to pay their debts, thus enabling business men to give credit that may be sorely needed by poprer families before the worst is over.—l am, etc., SMALL MAN.