THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 165, 15 July 1939, Page 11 (Supplement)

THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

R.S.A. Remembers Sick Diggers

Parcels! Cen we ever forget their welcome arrival! That glorious relief. they brought from bully, Mnconaehir, stew; stow, Maconochie, buy, ad Hit, and*the warm touch they represented from the folks back home. Then there were the "haves" and the "have nots," hut all were as one when the wrappers were undone and share and share alike was I he motto and the practice. Then there were the boye in hospitals; the same spirit of fraternity hot ween the f..it mint c and the unfortunate reigned. And to (Iny, nearly a qunrter of a rendu v iiflcr, there are still the "haves" nnd (lie "have note" amongst us, and si ill too Hint same spirit of "share mid xliiiri! iilike"— those who can, giving freely for those who need. In this work the agency iif the U.S.A. has proved a iliKUenil to ninny a (sick and suffering Digger sick and suffering physically iiinl ment n lly. Tons Of Tobacco \n inquiry into the work that Is being il-.ne l.v nliiciiils of the R.S.A. reveals ;■ i ..iii-liiii«_! P'Miilts, For instance, up in A'K-kliiiid. tl'p hospital committee in a \ .-nr act mi lly distributes tons of ' -mokes" and fruit and sweets to Digv is in hospital. Think of the quantity i.f inbiinco t h<ll enn he procured for the -urn of £312. That win what was -nut hi-t year. Think, too. of how i in h picture will be afforded men in i nil- hours of pain to be al>lc to light in a soothing "fag" or pipe in the ■ >•!.,. of the long n nd wearisome hours :l • day. ! ■■,!■ ure -.nine ""if) men still "on the i-iiilili-diiiinnt" of hospitals around the • iv mid of that immlier over 200 are hi ' th.. mental Im-pital. To them iilv ,•■•!• ~t :■ nt mul generous atten- ' ■' i ; im'ii, ami uuii't they deser\e it

On fruit £flO wae spent, and on sweets over £08, while for radio repairs (this at the mental hospital), £5 was expended, so that sets could be kept in order, and some touch with the outside world maintained by those who are for the time being in mental darkness. Rending matter and illustrated pnpers absorbed nearly £7, and this item, too, in greatly appreciated by the sick Diggers in the public hospital, the mental hospital, the infirmary and the Knox Home. In connection with the latter Fanmurc R.S. Club does splendid work. All patiente participate in the'activities of the association's executive committee. The "Mater" and private hospitals are not forgotten, and any men there of whom the committee is informed and who are i.. need have their wants attended to, for the aim is to see that no returned man lacks for such necessities that will help him in his time of suffering. Much work is also done by the visitors for inmates who require any advice or helfj in personal or pension matters, and in this respect the association is rendering excellent service for the Digger, even assistance being extended to wives and families v.'iep the breadwinner is out of action. This work is, of course, one of the first charges on the funds of the R.S.A., and illustrates the obligation that lies on every returned soldier to be within the ranks of the association. A proportion of the money comes from the Great War Funds' Association, whose co-operation and ready help are highly prized by the R.S.A. officials. Not only does the association attend to men in Auckland hospitals, but at Christmas time goods are sent to Tokonui mental hospital at Te Awamutu. The aggregate expenditure amounts '. > the handsome total of nearly £«>OO a year, or just on £12 a wpek. which is in itself a most commendable side of ft.S.A. activities.

UNKNOWN WARRIOR'S TOMB Question Of Protection. The Dean and Chapter of Westminster are coneidering the question of a means of protecting the Unknown Warrior's Tomb in the Abbey. Thie memorial is—though some who visit the Abbey do not realise it in time —in the form of an inscribed slab of granite, lying flush with the floor in the middle of the nave near the Weet Door. For eome time it wae enclosed by a barrier and eince the beginning of the period of continuous intercession prompted by the European crisis it has been again enclosed, but during recent years there wae no form of enclosure, and in consequence the tomb hae from time to time been walked over by thoughtless or unobeervant visitors. This usually happened when larjre parties of people were moving towards the West Door. There have been instUricee of wreaths and flowere on the tomb being trampled on. To prevent etich incidents, which, it was feared, might aleo cause permanent damage to the inscription, protective plans have been drawn up for the consideration of the Abbey authorities in consultation with the War Graves Commission. It hae not yet been decided whether the granite slab shall be encloeed by railings or raised altogether above the ground level, but a wooden model of it elevated from the ground was placed in the Eaet Cloister recently and will be inspected by the Surveyor of the Fabric, Sir Charles Peers. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ROLL OF HONOUR Auckland School Old Boys Friends or relatives of old pupils of the Napier Street School. Auckland, who loet their lives in the Great War, are asked to send names and particulars so that they could be inserted on thenew Roll of Honour being made for the echool on behalf of the Old Pupils' Association. The secretary is Mr. T. Itobineon, Argue Houee, High Street, Auckland.