RETURNED TROOPERS WANT BADGES

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 89, 13 October 1915, Page 8

RETURNED TROOPERS WANT BADGES

Three returned troopers called at the office of the Evening Post to-day and ventilated a grievance. They returned to New Zealand by/ the Tahiti after fourteen months' service for King and country, and two of them have since been discharged as medically unfit for further duty with the Forces. They now state that everywhere they go they are asked, " Why don't you go to the front? " and, other similar questions, and, generally, they are looked down upon because they are not wearing the khaki. Now that their uniform has been taken from them they claim that they should have at least a distinguishing badge of some sort which will signify to the general public that the wearer has " done his bit." "Just a piece of cheap ribbon would do," said one. "Or a lump of brass," suggested another.

Mr. S. Tansley, Acting-Official Assignee, had before him yesterday the affairs of Albert Edward Richardson, formerly of 228, Lambton-quay, re-staurant-keeper. The liabilities amount to £97 17s Id, and the chief creditors are A. S. Paterson and Co. (£36 12s 4d) and F. N. R. Meadows (£lB 2s 8d); other cerditors were for email amounts, mostly under £5. After hearing bankrupt's statement the meeting adjourned sine die. "Mr. Skerrett has proposed a scheme for the unification of the various patriotic funds throughout New Zealand," said Mr. J. H. Upton, a director of the Bank of New Zealand, to the Auckland Star. "Whether it be perfect or not in detail, I believe the principle to be sound. One thing is certain: Any assistance or compensation given to our wounded should be on a general national basis. For that reason I think Mr. Skerrett's scheme should be taken carefully into consideration, and, with perhaps some amendments, be brought into operation. It is obvious that it is to the advantage of Auckland to amalgamate with the rest of the Dominion, for while Auckland is supplying the greatest number of men for 'the front, other parts of New Zealand are deriving an extremely large proportion of the profits. It should be remembered that the men are not fighting for Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, or Otago, but for New Zealand, and a Dominion fund in every sense seems the most desirable schema." There are now 93 men, women, and children under the care of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, Auckland, including 14 who live outside and go daily to work. The number who have bene fited by residence totals 220, in addition to Aery many who have been taught to read and write at their own homes. The trustees earnestly appeal for liberal funds to enable them to maintain and extend the beneficent work on behalf of those deprived of the inestimable blessing of sight. The war has adversely affected the subscriptions and donations to me Institute's funds. Pupils are taught pianoforte tuning, woodwork, shorthand, and typewriting. Some of the pupiis have had great success at the University examinations. One of them, the Rev. F: Chitty. M.A., is a lecturer at St. John's Theological College, Auckland. Stock-ing-knitting by machinery is also being taught with success. For all the advantages that th« pupils receive in equipping them for their fight, against the world, it is stated that very few succeed in earning anything like sufficient to keep themselves. "Too much care and thought, therefore, cannot be given to the most important work of the 'after care' of the blind." The monthly meeting of the Moral and Physioal Health Society will be held tomorrow evening.