THE YOUNGEST SERVICEMEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 164, 13 July 1945, Page 4

THE YOUNGEST SERVICEMEN

Is it not time something should be done for the youngsters who in I§4o, when the country was calling for volunteers, answered that call at the early age of i . and IS years and have been" in uniform ever since, with overseas service to their credit. If it hadn't been for them, the defaulter and a few others would not have been so safe and secure. Are these youngsters the forgotten class? Does not. their future matter more to the country than that of the defaulter? The youngsters are now 22 and 23 years of ase. and are bitter, restless, and worried about their future. To us mothers the Government's duty is crystal clear. It is to release these youngster; to allow them to resume their studies, and broken apprenticeships. A WORRIED MOTHER. PENSIONERS' RENTS Less than two hundred years ago in England, harmless old women were drowned or burned to death as witches. To-day we do it here in a much subtler fashion: we let them starve to death. I am not alluding to the old age pension, but to the exhorbitant rents charged to these old people by harpies, as much as £1 per week for one tireless, cheerless room. Is it not time we found these people out and stopped them making a good living out of poor defenceless old people? I suppose we shall soon hear a lot about war memorials being erected at enormous cost. How about a few hundred small houses for old acre pensioners? GEORGE CROMER.