THE CITIZENS’ DUTY IS THE SOLDIER’S CALL

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 171, 7 April 1923, Page 3

THE CITIZENS’ DUTY IS THE SOLDIER’S CALL

A CLUB FOR WELLINGTON Sir,—-As tho good people of Wellington may bo asking themselves why the meeting to be called in tho Town Hall on Wednesday night next, the 11th inst., is for returned soldiers only, the one answer to be given is that two meetings have already been convened by Mr. Wright, the Mayor of 'Wellington, and tho paucity of attendance — some fifty in number on each occasion —clearly showed the lack of interest taken in the matter to be dealt with. It will now rest with what the returned men have to say on the subject. There could lie no good decision obtained otherwise, and I feel confident that the citizens by their actions will wholeheartedly endorse resolutions carried at the meeting. As we all know, those soldiers who had the good fortune to return, came back with a magnificent record. On every occasion when asked they obtained their objective, with but one exception — Passchendaele—which was, humanely speaking, impossible to make good, but, on that awful day of slaughter the New Zealanders returned to their lines with over 6.000 casualties, showing clearly what they were up against. And now lot me for a moment review tho decision that the Citizens’ War Memorial Committee have arrived at—to erect an obelisk, or monument, in - some form. One can only «ay that the groat war was not won by monuments of any description, but by the call of duty and loyalty to the throne (Empire). The tens of thousands of men who came frpm the backblocks of Canada, Australia and New Zealand knew but little of monuments.

Now regarding the meeting on the llth inst., there is every indication of a largo gathering of returned men, and It is for them to definitely place before the citizens their wishes and requirements. There should be no beating about tho bush. In whatever form their votes may be recorded I feel certain effect will be given to them. Mv only ivish is that tho meeting may be a record one as far as numbers go and noth the best results in the Interest of all concerned. Tho returned mon have said: ‘‘We will be there.” I feel confident they will keep their promise.—l am, etc., A. P. WHATMAN. . Masterton, April 6, 1923.