RETURNED SOLDIERS’ VISIT TO SYDNEY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22305, 20 January 1938, Page 8

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ VISIT TO SYDNEY

TO THB BDITOB OF THI PBSS3. Sir,—The letter by “Satis Verborum” in to-day's issue resolves itself into purely political bias, viz., his slurring suggestions on the future actions of his former (shall I say, comrades?) who have been lucky enough to be included in the invitation to Sydney. He accuses the Socialistic Government of using returned soldiers by the soft soap method in vote catching, and in the same breath, he himself is using the returned soldier and his suggested future scandalous behaviour as a leverage against the present Government’s action in easing the fares for what he describes as a big beano. Since he is a former N.Z.E.F. man, himself, I cannot understand ids mentality, or viewpoint. During the dark days “over there” it was only the digger’s loyalty to his mates and his land which made the name of New Zealand respected everywhere. As regards what governments have done for former soldiers, the benefits would have been bare indeed had it not been for the continuous battling of the officers of the various Returned Soldiers’ Associations. Good luck to them and their energies. “Satis Verborum’s” quotation from the “Dominion” of January 8 has again been twisted by him in the nastiest possible way against his former comrades. He quotes the organiser’s words, “Some method of creating and preserving order will have to be evolved.” Quite right, it will. These men will want to know for themselves what section and company they will be in and the organisation and time of parade, as in the old days, and that is what the method to be evolved will be for, not, as “Satis Verborum” slurringly hints, the shepherdihg of a mob of crazy, irresponsible, intoxicated beano-loving former soldiers.

His remarks on Anzac Day are also in bad taste. To former service men. judging by parades I have seen here, the day is a genuine homage to comrades who have gone West, and is rigidly observed as such. To the mothers and fathers, who have lost their men, there is no need for an Anzac Day to remember. To the younger generation, who knew nothing of war, it does not matter. Let them be happy till their time comes, as it will. In' Conclusion. I would suggest that “Satis Verboru’m” turn his political bias into another channel and not at the expense of the, to him, probable behaviour in .the future of former service men, of whom those lucky enough to go to Sydney will acquit themselves as we expect them to do. like gentlemen. —Yours, etc., BREAK. January 18, 1938. [Subject to the right of reply of M. S. Wilson, this correspondence is now closed. —Ed., “The Press.”J