DISSATISFIED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 310, 31 December 1940, Page 4

DISSATISFIED.

RETURNED SOLDIER. i I PROMISES UNHONOURED? Strong dissatisfaction with the treatment accorded him since his return to New Zealand a month ago was expressed to-day by a First Echelon soldier, Private A. Mitchell, of 34, Spencer Street, Remiiera, who has been invalided home from £gypt. He pointed out that the Government had promised every returned man a mufti allowance of £7 10/, less any shortages; a meal allowance of 2/6 a day while awaiting discharge in New Zealand; and a free pass available for a month over the railways system. These promises had not been honoured as far a« he was concerned. Private Mitchell, who is an employee of the Dunedin Tramways Board, joined up for service at Dunedin and, after training, sailed for Egypt with the First Echelon. During his absence his wife and family moved to Auckland on account of her health so, on his return, he gave Auckland as his home and received a railway pass, thinking that the month's pass promised by the Government would be available almost immediately so that he could take his wife and family 'back to Dunedin to resume work. No Reply Received. "So far no pass has come along," he said. "I have made inquiries at Army Headquarters here and have got in touch ■with Wellington on the matter without obtaining any eatisfaction. Eight days ago I was asked to fill in a form and eend it down together with my paybook. I have done so but there is as yet no reply." The position was serious for him, he added, as he was faced with the cost of transport of his wife and family to Dunedin, where he would commence work after his discharge on January 2. If he had to go down himeelf it would be necessary to keep two homes going—; a most expensive business. ■ ( Arrangements had now been made through the Placement Office for his fare to his job in Dunedin because, ■unless he could get back to work, he ■would not be able to provide for his family. As far as pay was concerned, said Private Mitchell, he had received only £1 2/10 since his return, though his wife had, of course, received her usual allowance. The explanation given by the authorities was that he had been paid in India and, a<s his paybook had been sent direct from Egypt to Xew Zealand, they were not certain as to how much was due to him. Nevertheless, I know of others who were also paid in India and who came back with me, getting anything up to £4 10/," he said, adding that the £1 2/10 had been paid to him on December Iβ. Mufti Allowance. In order to get some ready money he had returned his kit, with the approval of the army, thinking that he would receive his mufti allowance right away. He ha.d no clothes of his own and had to send to Dunedin to get the suit of ft younger brother who had juet entered the army. In the meanwhile he had been walking around the town in a suit of clothes muehltoo small for him, hoping thai; he would get the cash from the army. On December 17 lie had received a letter from Base Records advising him that a warrant for £6 10/ had been forwarded to him, care of the Remuera Post Office. He was told to call there and present his paybook for payment. • "I have called practically every day, but it is wot there," said Private Mitchell. "The army authorities here know nothing 'about it and, though I have made r.eprcsenta'tione to Ministers of the Crown, including the one from my own electorate in Dunedin, I can get no satisfaction/ . He added that he had received courtesy and assistance from the R.S.A. in Auckland and from patriotic bodies, but it was only right that the promises given by the Government should be honoured in full. Soldiers were not asking for but only for their rights.