WAR SEALS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 306, 4 June 1915, Page 5

WAR SEALS.

i* .«.t) TO HELP WOUNDJEB *■ iiKmSH BOLDIJSRij. AN EX-GISBOBNE LADY'S lAPPS^jfc. s To the Editor. Sir, —As a Mew Zealander, may X tree- - pass on your space to make an appeal to the never-failing generobity ot my f fellow-countrymen— and women. To-day ► at our matinee here we hud two rows pi (stalls filled with wounded soldieravguests invited from the Woolwich MiJ3- ■ tary Hospital. Bandaged heads looked - up at ub over the footlights and from the stage we eould see the arms in slingi , and the hands rolled up in lint. At dif- ■" , ferent towns during the past few months : I have played to jnauy wounded "Tommies." At- Torquay we organised an entertainment for tlio wounded soldiers at the American Women's War Hospital. ! This is at Oldway. House 'Mr. Paris Sin- : ger's country resideftce. Xearly 130 of ■ our wounded limped or were wheeled tff ■ carried into the Hiding School, where iro gave our little play followed by songs and recitations. I shall never forget those- wounded men singing "Tipperarjr.'? Their gratitude for all that is done for them and their wonderful oheerfulneM is the most touching thing imaginable. Miss Fletcher, the matron—who, by-tlie-bye, was born in Auckland—told me that however much tlicy may be suffering when are brought in they have always a joke or a laugh or a song on their lips. The hopelessly wounded seem to me more pitiful even tlian the brave d«ad ( and my appeal is for those 'who, after this war, will be totally disabled*— the blind, the paralysed, the maimed. Air. Oswald Stoll haS thought out a splendid scheme by which comfortable homes may be given to these poor men

h of the forces—both naval and military —at a very trilling rent; but to provide t these homes a great deal of money is y necessary. This is to be collected by s the sale-of "war seals." If everyone e will place one of these halfpenny seals e on the back of every letter written, a - large fund can be raised. A consign* nient of the seals, together with circus lars giving particulars of the scheme, is ? being sent to any sister, Miss A. L. llees. Cook County College, Gisborne. Fro* (jisoorne they will bo sent, I hope, to a i responsible firm in every "town hi New 11 Zealand so that they may be bought bjj |. everyone who can spare a shilling or two for these poor men "broitcn in our war#." j If the newspapers will lend their assistance in giving the scheme publicity, a , good deal of money should be collected in our loyal and warm-hearted little country. It may be urged that New Zealand . will have her own soldiers to care for, but if any of our brave soldiers are I maimed I do not think they are likely to be left homeless, and New Zealand I will still have the power and the generosity to stretch out a helping hand to [ the heroes here in the Motherland as weil as to help her own. A pension of twenty-flvo shillings a week for life is to be granted by the , British 'Government to all totally disabled soldiers, but though this will keep them from absolute want it'cannot give them any great comfort, and it is powerless to protect them from the awfut pro* spect of neglect and bitter loneliness in' the long years to come. The war seal ; foundation by its establishment of happy and comfortable homes will do much to recompense the men who hare sacrificed so much for their King and country. Mr. Oswald Stoll's name is a household word in London, and lie is well- " known as a marvellous organiser, drrangements are being made whereby the Trustees of the Foundation will be ono of the leading banking corporations of London, and the control of the Foundation will be given to a committee consisting of a representative of the Army,. a representative of the Navy, and, if possible, a representative of the Government. —I am, etc., ROSEMARY REES. Artillery Theatre, Woohvie-h, London, March 3, 11)15.