EX-SERVICEMEN'S PROTESTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 250, 22 October 1945, Page 4

EX-SERVICEMEN'S PROTESTS

To The Editor i'> Mr. F. C. Davies' letter regardfe, the action of the Second N.Z.Ef Association takes the familiar that what was good enough in igjg should do in 1945. Conditions Tia Ve changed for the worse. The assort, ation has advocated increased mufti allowance and a War Compensate,, Act for the disabled and infirm Gratuity could be paid in bonds. The sensible man, realising the trend of business and prices will look after his own share Many have longer service than aflv man had in 1914-18, and are entitled to the sum proposed. The drunk" will dissipate it, as will the punter so a part of it will soon go back hi the Treasury. The £25 mufti allow ance is inadequate, but is hardlv likely to be increased at this stase of demobilisation. The proposaFto move the 200-odd patients to Middle, more is unfortunate. As a double amputee of this war, my experience is that a lot of lip service from the Government and public has- been the main expenditure. The Red Cross ladies have done their part' splendidly- Amputees wait nine .i.,,J J? months for an artificial limbr Th e War Pensions Acf„ survival of 1920 is a disgrace. The Second N.2.E;F' Association has a policy for a War Compensation Act to lift benefits into line with the cost of-living. The association claims to represent" the men of this war, the infantry -io'f Crete, the gunners who stuck to, aiid died on, the guns at Sidi Rezegh, the men of Ruweisat Ridge, the -four months of Alamein, of Takrouna and so, in Italy, also. "Go forth Lye lads. When you come back nothing will be too good for you." What did the heroes of Gallipoli to Le:Quesnoy get? The poor beggars who, were gas victims died by inehfes. We are lucky we have no such cases here this time, but are w going jo do better, or are we going to count the cost and say, "It is- too,-;high; the country can't afford it"? -My £180 gratuity will go in a quiet ptece until more sensible values" prevail. A 1940 KIWI