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Otago Daily Times, Issue 16916, 31 January 1917, Page 4

The work of the Now Zealand l National Service League will justify ifcsolf more and more, doubtless, as time goes on. The record of its first yoar's operations, as supplied by tho ho:i. organiser (Mr F. Morris), indicates that it has made- siomc- ! thing more than an excellent beginning. The main objects of tho deaguo—to make i every possible provision for tho future j welfare of our returned soldiers in civil life, tho caro and education of war orphans, and the encouragement of the purchase of goods of British manufacture—are such as must command tiho sympathy of everybody. Tho organiser makes some references of special interest regarding the steps taken to secure tho welfare of men returning to civil occupations. "The hardest time of a soldier's life," ho writes, "is in regaining his former position in civil life. It is amazing how many people consider that a returned soldier should accept any work offered to him, no matter bow menial or uncongenial the nature <rf iho work may be, instead of offering him. the best position he is capable of holding." Such words, we hope, will bo duly pondered so far. as they come under the notice of those to whom they are specially directed. Every credit is given the Dis"charged Soldiers' Department for the excellent work it is doing in helping tho men hack to civil life, and to the experts of the Department of Agriculture, for the time and instruction they have given to returned soldiers, though regret is expressed that the offer of the Technical School authorities to teach trades to men incapacitated from following their former occupations has not been to a greater extent taken advantage of. Special effort has been made to interest the rising generation in the work and objecte of the league, and the organiser having addressed 150.000 of the young people of the dominion on the subject. The great test of the efficiency of such an organisation as this will come with the return of the troops after the war. Then will be emphatically tho tamo for all to show lasting remembrance of what we owe them. The spirit which the National Service League aims at inculcating in the community generally is well conveyed in its own words, which we may appropriately quote : " Wβ are very anxious to appeal to the sohool children throng-bout the dominion to honour disabled soldiers and do aJI the little acts of kindness they possibly can for them. The war is leaving a legacy of crippled and disabled men, who have fought bravely, so that the coming generation may live in freedom and comfort in the years to come. We desire to impress upon the children that they may senve the Empire now and show their gratitude for what has. done for them by our brave soldiers and sailors by brightening the lives of war orphans, children who have lost their best and dearest friend, their guide and he&p through life, and are therefore in need of special acts of kindness from the more fortunate ones. Another point to impress on our young folk is that it -will be their duty and privilege to at all times do what they can to cheer and assist to make brighter the lives of the crippled and disabled soldiers, who have sacrificed so much for our Empire, our dominion, and all tho rising generation, and that as the children grow up, and these brave men grow older, this duty and privilege will be felt to be a legacy of love never to bo forgotten."