SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS' FUND.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14262, 17 November 1916, Page 2

SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS' FUND.

(To the Editor of "The Colonist/")

Sir, —Politeness requires that X 1 should not altogether ignore the lady's letter which recently appeared over the i norn de plume "V," although hardly any of her remarks have much bearing on the main question at issue. First let me inform her that at the meetings held in June and September of 1915 the subscribers passed all the rules that they deemed necessary. The Advisory Board was working quite satisfactorily under thos^e rules, and there would have been no call whatever to adopt any other rules but for 4he one and only reason set forth in the board"'s own report, namely, the strongly expressed wish of thS Hon.. 6. W. Rrussell thab the fund should be incorporated under the •War Funds Act. It is somewhat foolish therefore for "V" to • suggest that I was casting a slur upon the board when I said that it would hot have brought down the fresh set of mles, but for the need to incorporate. I was merely stating a fact. In the second place "V" accuses me of inconsistency because I supported , Messrs. Duncan and Evans in urging that the rules should not be changed' without the subscribers being made aware of it, and yet voted afterwards against the resolution moved by Mr. Evans. But "V" overlooks the fact that Mr. Evans's lengthy resolution went a great deal further /than merely postponing the consideration of the rules -tilla later meeting; otherwise I should certainly have supported it.' It was on account of the other provisions in the resolution that I voted against it. Cannot even "V" see that there was no inconsistency here? Again "Y." like Mr. Duncan, affects to sneer at the idea of the subscribers being influenced by this discussion. If there were any force in. "V's" remarks, it would follow that all discussion of any topics, whether political or otherwise, would be absolutely superfluous and futile. But it should be apparent even to "V" that in a democratic country, the discussion of all important questions is of vital im-j portance to the welfare of the com-1 munity. Finally "V" wants me to ex-; plain' what I mean by the necessitous soldier. A concrete case, typical of many scores that are being assisted in i 1 every district in New Zealand except Nelson, may make the matter clearer • ."than any definition. A father and' I mother both died, leaving a family of I several boys and girls in the care of ran aunt. The eldest boy to a large I extent supported his aunt and his younger brothers and sisters with his earnings, but lie became of military age and was anxious to serve his. coivn- , try. But he was confronted with the grave difficulty that the law, while 1 granting separation allowances for wives and mothers, makes no provision for the dependents in shieh a case as his. The Wellington Board., however, came to the rescue and undertook to keep the young fellow's insurance premiums paid and also to allow his aunt £1 per week .for the support of the brothers and 'sisters. The board of every district in Now Zealand, save Nelson,, would have thought it a. fit and \ proper thing to assist that young felI low in the same manner; but how do jour Nelson Cannonaders regard such [cases? Some at least of them tell us , that to make any such grantl? would I bo—Heaven sa;vo the mark ! —a. degradation of our fund! I am. etc.. r F. G. GIBBS, rYo the Editor of 'Tho Colon &t."> / Sir, —Mr. Gibbs on September 7th, lln a very neat, speech (vide your re- ! port), supported Mr. Duncan and Mr. ; Evans. At the same meeting and at . the adjournment he voted against I them. He made an eloquent speech on ! consulting subscribers, and then voted against consulting them. He says myv ! facts and logic will not bear the most r cursory inspection: I' am glad that Mr. Gibbs agrees: with me •that the above fact will ! not- bear the most cursory inspecj tion. Unfortunately for Mr/ Gibbs, it i will not. This is aphilosophic resignation to logic no one expected from Mr. Gibbs. The inconsistent attitude of | Mr. Gibbs on that occasion has not even "a shrill feminine quality" (whatever this means). As Mr. Gibbs on his own admission is inconsistent., he is incompetent to judge the statements of others. I a.m., etc..