RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15777, 19 December 1916, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

TO THE EDITOR OP "THE TRESS." Sir, —1 note by your issue of Saturday that an association has been formed in the interests of returned soldiers. We may now hope that the work of mercy is not left to a few patriotic ladies and gentlemen. As regards the control of the club-rooms provided by the citi'sams of Christchureh to returned soldiers, it seems to me that tho Association is unreasonable in demanding that those who have provided tho rooms shall have no say in them. No one will interfere beyond seeing that the money contributed by tho citizens is properly spent. The Association seems to fear that it will lose a few ten shillings if all soldiers are allowed to use the rooms free of charge. Perhaps so. but the few tonbobs would be nothing compared v.ith the £700 per annum which the clubrooms will cost. Verily, the Association is on a rood wicket, and should not let the pitch be cut up by swell edheaded agitators. With the election and payment of 10s *>cr annum, the public has no concern 6o long as it does not interfere with tho principle that the hospitality of the city be for all returned soldiers of good character, irrespective of association, class, creed, or politics. That the soldiers themselves should attempt coercion is re-, mnrkab'e. -It will be more remarkable still if those citizen s who provided the club-rooms should allov any Red Fed trade union methods to rule their hospitality.—Yours, etc., CITIZEN. Christchurch, December 17th.