NATIONAL SERVICE LEAGUE

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 53

NATIONAL SERVICE LEAGUE

The following is a list of winners of medals and certificates offered for the best essay "on " How to Help Disabled Soldiers in Civil Life " : First prizes (gold medals presented by F: Cooper (Ltd.), seed merchants)—Boye: A. E. King, Waitaki High School, Oamaru. Girls: Winnie Mahon, Aratapu High School. . Special prize—Helen Scanlon, Kaitawa SchooL via Eketahuna. Certificates of merit—May E. Barltrop, Taupaki; Francis Finn, North Forest Hill; J. S. Bellaney, Rongahcre; G. Gillard, Convent. Thames; E. Mathew, Pleckville; D Bond, Mataroa; C. Mear, Okakukura; C. Cobb, Taupaki; Jim Kettle, Pirinoa ; M. Hobson, Hatuma; Tom Janson, Tongaporutu; L. Askew, Aratapu ; L. Hirst, Russell; Ivy Bennett, Port AJbert. The judge decided that the best way to help disabled soldiers in civil life is well described in the winning essay of A. E. King, of the Waitaki High School, whicb is published below: — . . " The soldier, disabled temporarily or permanently in the defence of his' country's honour, has ever evoked feelings of pride and symnathy, and to-day there are many outlets for the practical expression of these feelings. " First of all, to greet the return of our wounded, there should be created an atmosphere of chceriness and encouragement, and 'the gratitude of those for whom they have suffered can materially, by gifts and judicious entertainment, lighten the period of convalescence. "Before the soldier is discharged from hoepital complete arrangements should be made for hisfuture. If not disabled, much can be done in procuring employment for him in the work for which he was previously trained. If, however, unable to pursue, through disability, his former occupation, he should be sympathetically educated in a new vocation, such as bee or fruitfarming for a disabled farmer, or a commercial life for a man no longer able to follow his trade. Many men could be instructed in special trades, and here unione must be influenced to favour employers giving work to disabled soldiers at rates agreeable to their employees. " The greatest support to the incapacitated soldier is rendered by bringing continual pressure to bear upon the Government to safeguard his pension rights and to facilitate a new start in farming or civilian life. " Worthiest of every possible assistance is the soldier who, by self-sacrifice, has lost hjs health and become completely disabled, while hardly at the prime of life, and the Government must be influenced to -realise that he should bo comfortably provided for by a liberal life pension, and not by public subscription, which tends to undermine the independence he deserves. " Pafriotio demonstration is often as short-lived as it is spontaneous, and the returned soldier merits, and appreciates, assistance unselfishly rendered and honour sincerely accorded."