“SPIRIT OF ANZAC”

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 104, 26 January 1933, Page 10

“SPIRIT OF ANZAC”

Work for Disabled Men

LIGHT JOBS IN CAMPS

That the spirit which carried the New Zealand soldiers through the Great War burns as brightly to-day as it did from 1914 to 1918 was apparent from a letter which was received by the executive of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association last night from a returned soldier at Taumarunui.

The writer of the letter refers to the fact that there are probably many returned soldiers in the city who may be partially disabled and in need of money. He suggests that there are various light jobs iu the camps which these men could do. The camps at present, were short of men. “This light work in the camps is paid at the rate of 10/-. a week,.wet or dry, and consists of such duties as attending the mess-rooms and looking after the baths,” continues the letter. “There is one man employed at this camp who has one leg. and he has been there since the camp opened nine months ago. If unfit men are not sent from Wellington, these'jobs" will have' to be filled by fit men. who will most likely be shirkers and dodgers of hard work who will worm their way into these light jobs rather than do farm work.

“As far as the conditions in the camps are concerned, you can take my word for it they are all right, and most of the men who came here from Wellington destitute have got on their feet, and have gone away with enough money to rig themselves ou£ brand new.

“As far as these light jobs are concerned, they are made to order for a partially unfit ‘Digger,’ ” continues the letter, “and I feel if your influential association made representations some of the ’Diggers’ in hopeless mood in Welliugton could get very decent jobs at decent pay (considering the times and the very small amount of work), and I am quite sure some of them could hold down such jobs till they get well on their feet, as I did myself. “When I came up here I was at a very low ebb, and never expected the camps to be near as good as they are. and I can recommend anyone else in the 'same case to do likewise.” The secretary. Mr. J. Silence, reported that he had forwarded a copy of the letter to the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department. Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell said this letter showed that the spirit which carried the New Zealand soldiers through the Great War burned as brightly as ever. It was just the spirit which was wanted in these difficult days. He felt that returned soldiers should take a lead in these trying times, and this letter showed that returned men were keeping a stiff upper lip