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Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1940, Page 4

Thu Westland Provincial Patriotic Fund is coming before the public tor practical support. Various means are being devised to augment the lunus. For the district, it is most important of the war funds, for it will be the source of help for men on service, and afterwards for their rehabilitation. As the Westland Provincial district extends from lnangalnia south to the end of Westland, it embraces a great area and a considerable population. Men are volunteering readily, and through the Patriotic organisation their care in camp and overseas becomes a local responsibility. But the greatest drain will come when rehabilitation has to be met, on the return of the men. It lias been estimated that to discharge the duty properly for. the men of this extensive district, a sum of something like £20,000 will be needed for Westland province. The provincial area is to be responsible for its own men on return, just as now it lias to contribute on a population basis to all on service. There is thus a direct obligation on every member of the community to see that the future is kept in mind now, and well provided for. Praise is expressed for those going on service, and a high degree of enthusiasm shown with the departure of the soldiers. But they wid return, and after their great services their welcome home should be even more enthusiastic, than their fartwel.s. It should take the more practical form of help in seeing that they are replaced in civilian life with the opportunity to carry on successfully for themselves. There will be thousands of men to care for, and it is apparent a large sum of money will be needed as a reservoir for timely assistance. In the appeals now being made, and the methods used to raise this fund to a substantial sum adequate for such an important purpose, there should be a ready response on the part of the public whose security will be ensured by the men serving in the various duties of defence. In the Great War, the district did handsomely, but in this greater war with more at stake, the local effort 1 must needs be enhanced to the fullest to discharge the obligation.