RETURNED SOLDIERS

Evening Star, Issue 16910, 6 December 1918, Page 4

RETURNED SOLDIERS

MINISTER CHANGES HIS TONE. [From Our pAELi-v\.;;r-:TARY Reporter.] WELLINGTON, December 6. There was a big deputation of the Returned Soldiers' Asf.ocia.tion to members and Ministers to-day. There were over 49 members in attendance, including Sir James Allen, tho Hon. A. S. Myers, and the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald. The for retrospective for married men was put verv emphaticallv bv several members of tho R.S.O. Sir Jame-3 .Allen first stated that Government had decided not to grant tho request. He said that if the men had told him in the. early days that they were likely to rake the-'question of rctrospectivo allowances he could not have accepted married men for service. He would have been much more proud of tho men if they had not raised the question. The Minister soon realised from the tone of the members present, and also from subsequent remarks of the deputation, that his position was not an easy one. Mr Fox, a member of the deputation, said he was not issuing a threat, but if the men's demands were not granted, what did tho Minister osoeet? Members of tho orcrarA-nHoi had lifted blood, a"d Irxl seen something of life, and would engage themselves in tho coming political conlefts in justice to their comrades. He contended tk<t Sir James Allen was dris--ine them to it. Mr Clinkard suggested that the Minister proposed to cive £1.250,000 in bonuse.s, but it would bo better to give tho married men justice first by reduemft the amount of" bonuses by the sum required for retrospective trrant.s. .Sir James Allen immediately declared that he would be very dad to place f 1:3 suggestion before the Cabinet for consideration.