OTAGO PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3154, 26 August 1914, Page 18

OTAGO PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

APPEAL TO FARMERS. The following appeal is being sent out to farmers and others throughout the counties of Waikouaiti, Waihemo, Maniototo, Vincent, Lake, Taieri, Bruce, Clutha, and Tuapeka by the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association: In view of the very .grave crisis through which the British Empire is now passing, brought upon it by the craft and ambition of an unscrupulous autocrat in the person of the German Emperor, we, the undersigned, appeal to you for all the assistance it is in your power to give to the Otago Patriotic Fund, because: —(1) The struggle in which our nation is engaged is ope at the conclusion of which, if Great Britain and her Allies succeed, ,we shall continue to enjoy all the privileges which we now possess and which were bought for us by the life blood of our ancestors. If, on the other hand, our enemies triumph, all we have will be taken from us, and instead, of being free men, we shall paiss under the bondage of a Power that recognises no authority but that of a man who believes all Europe should bo dominated by his will. (2) If such a catastrophe should happen—and it is undoubtedly a possibility—and if each of us were to fail in his duty to the Empire at this critical hour, then what would it avail him to say, “If I had known how great was the issue, I would, have offered not only my substance but also myself to have averted such a calamity.” (3) When such a fate overtakes us, it will be too late to retrieve our position among the nations of the world, and in that day our remorse

■will be that we failed in our duty to ourselves and to those that are to follow us. (4) The present is a time when each should say to himself, “ I will willingly spend my last shilling, and even my life, if need be, to maintain the heritage that has come to me as a' citizen of the great British Empire.” (5) If we consider the matter in this light, then there should be no lack of funds to enable the association to provide for the needs of all those in Otago who, either directly or indirectly, may be brought into circumstances of distress as the result of this stupendous war. (6) The conflict may prove to be af prolonged one, indeed, competent military authorities in Britain anticipate it will be, but whether it is long or short, there will be an enormous amount of suffering and distress to relieve, and whilst _ we are in a position to give, now is the time to ’subscribe to the fund. (7) Whilst the war lasts, there can be no permanent or satisfactory markets for our wool, meat, butter and cheese, or for any other of our products, so if each of us helps_ now to equip the Expeditionary Force and to provide a fund to meet the necessities of those depending upon our brave soHiers who are going to the front, we shall have done somctV«o+- will enable us to say, “I have done my duty, come weal or woo,’’ and the greater tb° sacrifice we make now, the greater will bo the nrobability of the war being brought to an early and satisfactory 'conclusions to Great Britain and her Allies. (81 Eight thousand of our brave men, of whom two thousand will bo from Otago, are going forth to battle for our healths and homos from this dominion, aid there will be almost certainly a second Expeditionary Force sent. Of these men some, probably many, will never return, and many others will he incapacitated for life. Tn either case, tlie duty of providing for those who are left

in distress by the loss or the injury of their bread winner's, will fall upon the people of Otago. Already a good itart to meet that necessity has been made, but it is felt by our executive that the majority of our country friends have not yet realised how great the conflict is and how certain it is that help on a large scale will have to be granted to distressed dependents of those who are jeopardising their lives. We confidently appeal to you where you have already given to make further sacrifice to augment this most important fundi, and if you have not already contributed, to send in the utmost your circumstances will afford. If you are making a contribution, kindly be quite explicit as to whether you wish the money devoted to the fund for defraying the cost of the Expeditionary Force or to the fund for the relief of di-:tress. Yours faithfully, J. A. Johnstone (Chairman), G. R.‘ Ritchie, A. Todd, E. Bowler, H. 0. Hazlett, Country Organisation Committee. Correspondence to bo addressed to P.O. Box 462, Dunedin.