CHRISTMAS CHEER FOR EX-SOLDIERS IN MENTAL HOSPITALS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 2 December 1927, Page 4

CHRISTMAS CHEER FOR EX-SOL-DIERS IN MENTAL HOSPITALS.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Amid the stress of life everything ceases for two minutes on Armistice Day “lest we forget” the brave men who made the supreme sacrifice. May we ask a. thought for those who have not been so mercifully dealt with and are 7 well in body but- mentally afflicted, and doomed to spend perhaps years shut away in hospitals. Millions mourn for those who are dead, but not one mother or father who would not say their loved ones were far better at rest than left mentally afflicted. Can we imagine anything worse than a mind for ever tortured with the horror of the war? Those men who have returned well or even physically disabled have the power to shut the horror out for a while, not so the mentally afflicted. In December, 1920, there were 37 soldier patients in Porirua, Mental Hospital, and to-day there are 83. In making our annual appeal those numbers speak for themselves, and must give us all cause for serious thought. We argue that our lot is hard and we are unfairly treated with Daylight Saving Bills, petrol, taxes, etc., but compared with the soldiers in mental hospitals we are living in an Elysium. Country people and townspeople, do please rally round the Waimate West Ladies’ Patriotic Committee and help them to make their shop and street collection day in Manaia on December 6 an outstanding success. Cakes, sweets, flowers, produce and meat will be most gratefully received, and may be left at the shop or at Mr. Cosgrove’s. For those who are new to this district it may be of interest to know that the money collected' on this day is allocated as follows: £1 per head to ex-soldier patients in General Hospital, Hawera, and the balance to the mediical superintendent of Porirua Mental Hospital, who uses it td buy Christmas gifts for soldier patients, and also is able to give them little pleasures they could not otherwise have, and he assures us our thought for them is much appreciated. The Plains people have been wonderfully generous in answering this appeal even through the severe times of “slump.” and now that prospects are brighter we are hopeful for a record dav. Thanking vou.—l am. etc., MABEL BENNETT, Hon. Sec. W.W.LiP.C.