SOLDIERS AND THE DOMINION

Otago Witness, Issue 3517, 9 August 1921, Page 37

SOLDIERS AND THE DOMINION

i GENERAL RUSSELL’S VIEWS. FEILDING, August 7. General Russell, as president of the R.S.A., visited Feilding yesterday, inspected the Kapane and Fairfield soldiers’ settlements, and in the evening was tho guest of the local branch of the R.S.A. In a speech, the General said that New Zealand soldiers were treated letter than any others in the world, largely owing to the action of the R.S.A. They still had to watch and care for disabled men and the dependents of the fallen. The dominion was going through a bad time, and needed economy and efficiency. They must tighten their belts and bold on. Men nowadays were only 70 per cent, as efficient as they were previously. To make the country go ahead it required more efficiency. Referring to the canteen fund, he said he proposed that this £IBO,OOO should be used for tiie benefit of disabled men and dependants. lie was not in favour of the Government taking charge, as he thought this money and the Patriotic Society funds should bo lumped and taken charge of by a small committee, having the confidence of the soldiers. He concluded by calling on the soldiers to do their beet for their country. “If your country owes a debt to yon, you also owe a debt to your country.”