RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2836, 29 July 1916, Page 8

RETURNED SOLDIERS

The very frank ancl sympathetic speech of the Minister 'of Defence at the opening of the Returned Soldiers' Conference yesterday excellently expressed the views o" tho country' towards the' men who have served it so well abroad. The public arc anxious that the returned soldifirs should receive every possible consideration, and that the obligations of the -State should be met in a liberal spirit. It is especially necessary that 110 legitimate ground for grievance should be permitted to exist, and the organisation which has been formed in the interests of tho returned soldiers may be made to servo a useful purpose in affording a recognised channel through which tho men may make known any case of failure or neglect. .There are, of course, in every large body of men, malcontents and grumblers) inclined to manufacture' grievances on the slightest possible pretext or no pretext at all, and the Returned "Soldiers' Association, for the protection of the good name of its members, will no doubt find it desirable to examine closely the complaints of such- persons, and assist "the authorities in exposing them. Conducted on reasonable lines, iis there is every prospect of it being, the Association' should prove a great help to the Defence authorities as well as to returned soldiers. •Our men have made a reputation to mj proud : of,-and it will no doubt be tluiiV endeavour' to. maintain it linsmiVched.