WHEN THE BOYS COME HOME

Evening Star, Issue 16211, 5 September 1916, Page 6

WHEN THE BOYS COME HOME

RE-EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER TROUBLES. THE CHURCH STANDS BY THEM. At the meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery this morning tho question of rendering help to the ret irned soldiers was brought up by a letter from the session clerk of Knox Church, in which he explained that the Church session had had under consideration a report from one of its members who recently visited Australia ns to the wmrk done by the Victorian Church on behalf of returned soldiers. The following resolution had been carried and authorised to be sent to the Presbytery—That this session, having regard to the problems arising in counecnection with returned soldiers and the best means of helping them, request the Presbytery to take this matter into consideration, with the object of interesting the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand in this nobla work.”

The Rev. R. B. Davies said the Church must face the situation, which was one of exceptional difficulty. Already returned men were finding difficulty in regard to employment, and if such was the case to-day, one wondered what would be the position wirh all tho men who returned from the war. There ere;,-; nor bo possibly too many organisations for the purpose. He maintained that the Church, before all organisations, should be interested in a matter of this kind. The official mind was a strange one. It puzzled him. Tho Church must see that every man who came hack was dealt with fairly. He did not question the wisdom or justice of the advances to Civil sen-ants, but if Civil servants were to receive advances, then tho Government must see our men were dealt with fairly. "When men went before the Pensions Board and were turned down, as some of his own men had been, there was something radically wrong. There should bo united action on the part of the churches. The need might not be so urgent just now, but later on it would bo clamant.

Rev. F. G. Gumming, who brought the matter before Knox Church addressed tho Presbytery concerning what information he had gained while on his recent trip to Australia as to the scheme adopted by the Victorian Church. Rev. J. Kilpatrick moved that the question bo referred to the Public Questions Committee, to which might bo added the names of the Revs. Gumming, Axelscn, and Chaplain-major Dutton. Knox Church session should bo thanked for bringing tho matter up. Rev. A. Don, in seconding the motion, said it was extremely difficult to refrain from saying things which might be held to be detrimental to recruiting. The scheme must ultimately go to the Assembly.

Chaplain-major Dutton said it was of vital importancethat the Church should get its machinery ready. Our “ boys ” could not have too many friends. There were lads who came off the Peninsula, • having lost everything, whom it was extremely difficult to make understand that assistanco given them was not charity. One thing should bo understood above all others—our lads were not spongers. The motion was carried.