HELPING THE SOLDIER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 13794, 26 March 1919, Page 4

HELPING THE SOLDIER.

The Wairarapa Patriotic Association yesterday made a substantial grant towards the soldiers' farm at Taratahi. While commending the Association for its action in this connection, the public would like to know how much the Association has done towards giving substantial help to those soldiers who have taken up land in the back-blocks, or soldier farmers who are too proud to come before 'the Association and beg for help, for that is really what it amounts to. The miserable action of the Association in cutting oil" the £5 grant to the soldiers—thereby depriving one section of the soldiers from.receiving what another section had secured—was one which has been soundly condemned by the general public. !t is to be regretted that too often the cry is heard among our soldiers, "Don't go near the Patriotic Association; you'll get no help there." While we do not agree that this is true, still we think that the Association should make a greater effort than it has done in the past to assist the soldier on the land., or who intends to set himself up in business. The Association should also close down on "cranks" who come along, backed up by people of influence or affluence, and desire a grant for a. Turkish bath for the. natives of Timlnictoo, or a cooling chamber for the INquimos of the Far North. There is plenty of scope for the Patriotic Association to help the soldier, and, though good work may have been done in the past, Aye hope that the Association will do better still in the