CHILDREN'S HELP.

Northern Advocate, 11 August 1919, Page 6

CHILDREN'S HELP.

DURING THE WAR. : LETTERS OP APPRECIATION. Department of Defence, Wellington. Dear Boys and Girls, —I have read with very great interest of the good work you have been doing on behalf of New Zealand soldiers during their and while they have been righting for freedom, justice and liberty, and now that they have achieved v glorious victory—a victory which will enable you to live in peace and happiness—it behoves you never to forget the services they have rendered, not only to the Empire, but to you. Throughout ail ages it has been customary to honour the .brave, but there never has been a war of such magnitude, calling forth such effort, sacrifice and bravery, as the one through which our men have just passed; therefore let your honour and your effort on 'behalf of these soldiers who have returned to the Dominion be proportionately great. Your first duty should be to never forget those who lie buried on the battlefields of Palestine, Gallipoli, France, Belgium, and other theatres of war, and in the depths of the ocean. These are the real heroes of the war and have given their lives that you might live. Secondly, you should remember the widows and orphans and dependents of those who will never return. Do all you can to lighten their burden and lessen their sorrow. Thirdly, remember the disabled soldier, of whom there are thousands, who have suffered for you. These brave men are now returning to civil life, and many cannot follow their former employment, but they do want sympathy and they would scorn charity. What they do need is friendship and help, and to be given opportunities to earn an honourable living and lead a useful life and become good citizens. Your duty is to support the Government in all its efforts and to supplement these efforts whenever possible to enable our disabled soldiers to realise the fullness of life. Fourthly, honour all the brave men and women who have sacrificed themselves to gain the glorious victory which has assured to you—with God's help—peace and prosperity. Yours sincerely GEO. S. RICHARDSON, Brig.-General.

Twyford, Hastings, N.Z. Lady Russell joins me in thanking .the children of New Zealand. We have read with interest the kindly terest they have felt for those who were away at the front. I do thank them very sincerely on behalf of ill of us soldiers, who are their debtors, not only for their kind actions, but also and more especially for the kind thoughts that lay .behind and prompted them. Please tell them from me, that one kind action begets another, and that I look forward to their proving this in the future by contributing the same thoughtful care towards the soldiers and more especially towards those, who will, perhaps, all their lives, want the care from others, that their sacrifices at the front may make it difficult for them to fend for themselves. Tell them that the true spirit of friendliness will be as active in years hence when the war is only a memory as it is today, and that if they practise it today towards the fighting men they will find out later that they cannot help practising it whenever anJ wherever they find need for it. Yours sincerely. (Sgd.) A. H. RUSSELL.