HAMILTON’S OBLIGATION

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14592, 16 February 1921, Page 4

HAMILTON’S OBLIGATION

o The committee of the Firemen’s Belief Fund lias decided to continue the camqiss for a few days. The amount nob.' in sight is approximately £looo— sum by no means, adequate for the purpose in view, ami it is sincerely to lie hoped that the citizens of Hamilton will determine lo defray their obligations fo the dead firemen's relatives and dependents handsomely, without need for importunity. As we pointed out at the time of the distressing occurrence, these men sacrificed their lives in the service of the community, and it is the community’s bounden duty to ensure tlialllieir dependents shall not suffer because. of that sacrifice. It is inconceivable that there are citizens who should seek to evade their obligations in sucii a case, but it was stated at, yesterday’s meeting of the committee that the honorary canvassers have encountered such, and (hey are apparently content tiiat the widows and the orphans shall suffer because their husbands, fathers and breadwinners, fired by the spirit of service, offered their lives for the good of the community. To such individuals it is useless to appeal, for they have no soul lo appeal In. It is consoling, however, to know that their name is not legion. We hope that those citizens who have not yet been approached by the canvassers will not defer longer, but will forward their donations, however small, to either the treasurer of the fund (Mr F. W. Luxford, Box 58, Hamilton) nr to the Waikato Times office, il is unnecessary to point out that the canvassers are busy men, and it should not be essential in a case like Ibis for the individual to be personally appealed to lo discharge what, every rightminded citizen will recognise is his public duty. -*