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Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 437, 5 July 1915, Page 6

At the recruiting rally held in Cathedral Square on Saturday evening, Mr J. J. Dougall sensibly asked citizens not to relinquish their efforts or cease their little sacrifices for the benefit' of our sick and wounded soldiers because of what the Government was doing for them. There is plenty to be done with all the money that can hi raised, arid so far our own Patriotic Fund, for instance, has not nearly reached the amount required, although it is one of the healthiest in the Dominion. The Government has to face an unprecedented expenditure* .both for fitting out our forces and for provide ing pensions, and increased taxation will come soon enough, but, as Mr Dougall pointed out, it is the duty of the public to subsidise the Government's expenditure in this case.--"'ln doing so the people are not relieving the State of a.duty, but are merely helping their country voluntarily* and it is better that they should give this help according to their means in a spirit of grateful generosity than that it should be demanded of them by heavy taxation. It is a curious but undeniable characteristic of human nature that a man who will willingly donate a sovereign to the fund for the sick and wounded, would grumble at having to pay an extra 10/- on his income tax. Wealthy Wairarapa contributed magnificently to the appeal for the sick and wounded, and though Canterbury did well in response to the Belgian appeal, it is feared that the wealthier people of this district have not given their proportion to funds for invalided soldiers, as Mr Dougall suggested. The example set in Australia by Sir Samuel Caughey, who is giving £IOOO a month for 10 months is worth following here.