IN THE PUBLIC MIND

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 227, 24 September 1943, Page 2

IN THE PUBLIC MIND

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

SOLDIERS' REHABILITATION To the Editor. When the Prime Minister and other Government agents, during mobilisation, promised to give the men "generous and sympathetic treatment" after the war, they showed a recognition that the men would suffer, and their repeated promise became a contract. The Rehabilitation Board, speaking for the Government, said, "the State Advance Corporation will take care of the financial welfare of the soldiers." And the corporation immediately announced that it would lend up to £3500 to put a man on a farm, under a 30-year table mortgage at 4i per cent interest. This is not a gift; it is a loan. It is not lent to the soldier, but paid away by the corporation in buying the land and paying men's wages in equipping it. The soldier does not handle it- After the transaction is complete the tightest grip on the land is in possession of the lending corporation which holds the mortgage deed. What the soldier has is a big debt and an interest burden. This renegs shamelessly on its promise of a "generous and sympathetic treatment." It refuses to make a gift at all, except a little chicken feed to buy furniture, tools, etc. And, finally, it stealthily wraps up, in a land mortgage deed, a plan to squeeze out a profit of £2400 per man. While interest on money borrowed from savings is proper, there is no case for interest on money the Government certainly would not borrow, but print. ARTHUR SAINSBURY, President, N.Z. Small Farms League. CENSORSHIP EXTRAORDINARY I understood that the censorship authorities were established to read all overseas letters and delete therefrom any information that might prove valuable to our enemies. Apparently, acting under instructions from the present Government they have extended their efforts, as my case will show I receive from England, during my lifetime, the interest on certain shares in the estate of my deceased sister. The lawyers in England did not receive a receipt for the last sum forwarded, so they accordingly wrote to me inquiring whether the money in question had been received. I replied that the money had been received and that the receipt for, same was forwarded immediately, but a duplicate receipt was forwarded herewith. The censorship authorities, judging by the letter that I had securities in England, forwarded the letter to the Reserve Bank and asked whether I had declared the shares as an asset in England. The Reserve Bank immediately wrote to me inquiring why these shares had not been declared. When I replied that the shares were not mine and that I received the interest only during my lifetime, they retired "ungraciously." What I would like to know is, whether the censorship authorities are within their rights, when they impart to another Department information gained by reading overseas correspondence. CENSORED. IN HOSPITAL With reference to Mr. George E. Isherwood's letter, I would like to state my point of view, which, regretfully differs very materially from his. I am a returned sailor of this war, and after being invalided home from England I was admitted to the Auckland Hospital for treatment. lam now in my seventeenth week here and still waiting for the treatment, for which I am repeatedly asking. On one occasion the resident doctor said in front of several others and myself, "You've got me beat," and since then I have had nothing done for my health, which, unfortunately, is deteriorating all the time, as a perusal of my chart will show. In the last six weeks I have seen this doctor once only and my case is by no means an isolated one. Of the nursing staff I have the greatest admiration, but naturally they can do very little for one _ without authority from the medical staff. I am aware that doctors are overworked at present, but if this is the "every consideration for the returned men" that we heard so much about when we left for overseas, I am afraid we have been sadly duped. A.B. MANPOWER METHODS May I express my opinions on the Manpower methods. At present I am doing skilled work for the U.S. Transport Board. I have been told by men who have served in the armed forces here in New Zealand that as soon as the Manpower find out they are working for the U.S. Transport, they are rounded up and placed in essential work, whether they are fitted for it physically or psychologically, while old men, fit for the old men's home, and irresponsible youths ranging from 1(5 5 7 ears, are earning £10 to £1G per week. Most of these men volunteered for overseas service, and were retained in New Zealand for medical reasons (home service) and were boarded out here. Surely these men deserve to retain their individual initiative and minds. In reference to working girls breaking down in health, I wish to say this: Occupational neurosis is rife here in Auckland among working girls, the future mothers of our "super" race (?). Do not the powers to be recognise the emotional health of the masses, or are they ignorant of the psychology of mental health? JUSTICE. FIGHTING MEN You have had a number of letters regarding the merits of the British infantry soldier, and so far as I have seen there has been no reference to the outstanding Dominion troops. Speaking from memory and being open to correction, I 'think that Marshal Foch gave his opinion as to the crack troops under his command during the 1014-18 war. He enumerated about live or six divisions, including the New Zealand, one Australian Division and one Canadian, and gave pride of place to our men. This was for their fighting qualities and because the Division was kept up to full establishment all the time it was in the field. This opinion was backed up by other competent judges. whispering" s:m ith. QUARTER M iM.ION For our council to spend at the present time nearly a quaru: of a million to extend" the Town Hall when building material is so scarce, seems ridiculous. More absurd still when we consider that the city's water supply requires more capital for very necessary extension, and when this quarter of a million would provide finance for more than 100 people to build their own homes — surely the housing of 100 families is more important than office extension to accommodate a few when there are hundreds of idle offices in the city without tenants. CIVIS.