RETURNED SOLDIERS AND THE HON MR. FOWLDS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3027, 14 March 1917, Page 8

RETURNED SOLDIERS AND THE HON MR. FOWLDS

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Tliu bLaieuiiiuLS made by the Ron. Ueo. i'owuls ac the Oongrega.trian axe to grind, but are formed wun returned soldiers' cluD.s and organisations are so misleading ana uiiiair. that this association leeis mat a reply is necessary. At the outseu it must be clearly understood that tho returned . soldiers' organisations have no political or sectarian axe to grind, but are formed purely for the consideration of problems that undoubtedly exist. One of these is the "desoldierisins" of soldiers and settling them in civil life again. The lleturned Soldiers' Assocatiou is of the opinion that the establishment of clubs, where men can continue that spirit, of comradeship that only au actual experience in the firing line understands, and where they are in continual touch with men who have settled down to work again, is- a powerful help towards the solving of this problem. Tho benefit of clubs in this direction is not only a theory, for proof can bo civen where our local association and club have placed scores of men in employment. No encouraKemciK is given Upkeeps the' men off the streets and

by the fact that there are not more t than half a dozen men out of employment in our club to-day. Further than ' this, the existence of clubs undoubtedly keep the men off the streets and , away from other influences and temp- .. tations. V / ■ His significant that the hon. gentlc- • man, while launching such an attack at • the efforts of our organisations to grap- ' ;• pie with the difficulty, lie has not ven- ..; turod to "put forward any tangible or ' constructive method of dealing with it. ■ '". The hou. gentleman's remarks, Sir, ■•' show such a lack of knowledge of the . true facts that this association considers it regrettable, that he should • make such statements without ac- • quainting himself of the objects-of our ■_■■ organisation. ..' "His reference to lank of ideals and tho passing of resolutions by irresponsible minorities is. to say the least of it, anything hut complimentary to the ; men who have stood the twi on the battlefields of Gallipoli and France, and his remarks on the we"-clothed, well-fed, and the free-from-worry soldiers' life suggests a very poor conception of active service conditions. In conclusion the hon. gentleman is ■ invited to concede the possibility of there beins men. at the head of the returned soldiers , nrtranisations who na'vp the highest of ideals and are actuated bv the best of motives in ondeavourmc to solve/the problems that exist and nrouaro the way for those/men who are fortui-nto enoimli to return from service.—"ours. eto. •TAR. I). HARPER, Chairman, llie M'ellinjrfnn Returned Soldiers' Association,