Our Wounded Soldiers.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 57, 16 July 1915, Page 2

Our Wounded Soldiers.

ITO THE EDITOR.] bir, —Would yon kindly allow me, through the columns of vour valuable paper, space for the purpose of urging on our Mayor the desirability of calling a public meeting

foi the purpose ot organising some comprehensive scheme capable ot a sustained effort, having for its object the raising of funds to assist our wounded soldiers. I am convinced that residing of Pukekohe will endorse any tuch action by our Mayor and will support any movement organised and managed by responsible public men. They will consider it a privilege to have the opportunity of acknowledging in a small way all tfey owe to the brave lads who are returning home seriously wounded. These la 's have gone out from New Zealand and Pukekohe in the pride and ftrength of their blight young manhood, and are now coming back physical wrecks (=ome partially; others totally), and if som thing is rot dona and some provision made will be dependent on charity for tne remainder of their lives. 1 am sure we all realise very keenly what we owe to these brave lads who are away rieking their lives to ke?p our homes, preserve our farms and businesses to u?, and to prevent oar Dominion from being over-rin by a horde of barbarians such as i he world bss never seen, and it only requires a lead from our Mayor to express our gratitude in a practical way.

We have now been at war tome twelve months and the magnitude of the task, the gravity of the situation and tha vit l issues at stake, are only begiuning to be undtrstood. It is going to tax the resources of cur Empire in men and money to its utmost limit before the war ii brought to tbe only possible conclusion. Sir, one reason I am trespassing on your space is that personally 1 am anxious that somethirg should be done. The other, and more important reason, is that I am in receipt of a letter from my brother in Australia. In this letter he asks if Pukekohe is doing anything in the way of organising a Wounded Soldiers' Fund. If so, and it I am satisfied with the form the movement has taken, 1 am to offer on his behalf ttie sum of £IOO. Fifty pounds at once, tbe other £6O in ten monthly instalments of £5. If there was notbiog doing in Pukekobe I am to forward the BBme to the Mayor's fund in Auckland.

Sir, the only movement at present before the public is one for the holding of a "mock court" in the Premier Hall cn July 22ad, and 1 may say at once that although thanks may be due to the organisers for tbe motives that prompted them to do something, yet this form of raising money for the above object does not appeal to mj at all. In the first placj I am opposed to the principal of self-constituted authority where money is to be raised by public subscription, being strongly of tbu opinion that the authority to collect such money should be given at a public meeting; and, moreover, the position in Europe is much too grave, and the purpose for which the fund is being raised too sacred, to have any function assisting that fund burlesqued. In conclusion, Mr Editor, I beg to state that in the event of oui worthy Mayor organising a scheme capable of a sustained effort, I will be glad to hand over my brother's donation, supplemented by one from Roulaton Brothers for a further sum of £so.—i am, etc., james roulstun. Pukekobe, Jstb July, 1915.