SUSTENANCE MEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 44, 22 February 1937, Page 6

SUSTENANCE MEN.

I still see criticism of sustenance men in the Press. Surely we must not condemn the lot because of a few wasters. I wonder how many of the critics stop and analyse the cases of the«e men. A great majority of them are returned men who have reached a critical age in life and who now are feeling the result of their war services and are not fit for heavy work. Even the (Jovernmcnt recognises this by only taking "he-men" on public works or 011 subsidised jobs. Even if these men are on sustenance they are still men and ready to do a pofnl turn even to their critic*. Take* one case I know of: This man left school a boy of 14 years and went t<> sea as messrooin boy. By hard work, study and attention to duty he rose to chief steward, at the ape of 21 years. War broke out, lie enlisted, and he was eventually discharged. He could not follow his usual work, so he drifted to labouring work, and is now on sustenance. This man is a universal blood donor whose services are always at the disposal of tlie hospital, and who knows but that his blood has saved the life of one of his critics, or may do in the future? My suppestion is for the critics to try and And a job for even one man on light work, and be pleased with the thought of helping a fellow man, even if he be a sustenance man living perhaps in a miserable room ,on £1 a week. I personally am lucky in having a very clean and comfortable room. Some are not so lucky, so stop criticising and STAY IX YOUR OWX BACKYARD.