PARSIMONIOUS PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES.

NZ Truth, Issue 818, 16 July 1921, Page 9

PARSIMONIOUS PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES.

/ Dear ' "Truth,"— No doubt you are aware of the large amount of money that was .gathered m this district (Palmerston North) for the sick and wounded. * I believe it runs into sixty or severity thousand or thereabouts. Now, m other districts, the money tlyit was collected, has been paid out ages ago to the returned men, according to . the state they were m, which is the right thing to do. In this district the returned men have not received anything, from our half-pie patriotic: society, except some of them who were given a few bob if they were starving. The people who were generous enough to subscribe haven't seen even a. balance-sheet since the society was formed. If anyone wishes to refer to the.«tlistribution of patriotic moneys m our local rags they wont publish it,' therefore I hope "Truth" \yill not hesitate m making this public to show the people of New Zealand what a beautiful patriotic society Exists m Palmerston North. There was also some talk of the society holding back about half of the funds for cases which would arise m years to comeThis, I consider, is utter rot, as it is the Government who should look after these cases, and not patriotic societies. This money was gathered for the sick and wounded, so why not give it to ■-them, (it's theirs) instead, of hoarding it up.. I'm surprised that the digger's of Palmerston North have not squeaked before this, but 1 think they are as dead as. tlie society is. Hoping some abler pen than mine will take this matter up. — Yours, etc., "HALF- STARVED DIGGER." Palmerston North.