The Evening Star MONDAY, MARCH 17, 1919.

Evening Star, Issue 16994, 17 March 1919, Page 4

The Evening Star MONDAY, MARCH 17, 1919.

Despite tho belated hour of arrival and the lark of information concerning tramway arrangements that under proper management would have been vouchsafed to the public through the medium of our columns on Saturday, the draft of main body men •who returned by the Hororaia met with a reception last nicht at the hands of the Dunedin public that was only commensurate with the deeds performed by ths Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli and on many a bloody field in France and Belgium. For once it may be truly said that Dunedin rose to the occa-ion. If the military authorities had willed it otherwise—had, for example, given tho southern men a much-needed rest at Christchurch, let them entrain there at an early hour this morning, and have landed them rin our City before dark this evening—we venture to say that the buildings would have been beflagged as they never were be for®. Every band would have turned out in its full strength, and a procession through the principal streets world have bf'en organised. Every comrade who had been on active service would have swelled tho ranks of the returned heroes, and the streets would have been black with lines of humanity whcc© thankfulness for great deeds performed for humanity’s cause and for the upliftment of the race would have been expressed in happy faces that could be read at a glance, and in tumultuous 'and continuous cheering that spoke every individual heart’s fullness. But that was not to be. There was, however, a spontaneity and warmth in last night’s reception (the details of which are chronicled elsewhere) which must have convinced the men of all ranks that Dunedin, at all events, realises that her duty, as well as that of the Dominion, must not bo limited to the showering of fiowers or to the providing of creature conifovts for’ weary travellers by steamer and train. The men who have done $o much for the protection of our lives and liberties, and who have made it possible for the statesmen of tho world to evolve a scheme that may possibly put an end to war for many generations to come, must be fended and cared for. and supported for the red of their days in reasonable comfort, even though the much-talked last shilling of the State shall be utilised in the achievement of that task. In so expressing our firm conviction that New Zealand will not shirk its bounden duty in that relation, wa do not for a single moment wish it to be inferred that we are advocating a life of leisure for the repatriated soldiery. Such a notion is furthest from our thoughts, and we aro confident that we are expressing the views of the men themselves when we affirm that such a policy, if proposed, would bo rejected by them with indignation and scorn. And rightly so. There may bo difficulty in replacing every man who has been spared to return nomo in his accustomed niche in the community that he left over four years ago, amidst the fears and with the fervent prayers for his safety of those nearest and dearest to him; but in the main the soldiers owe it to themselves and to their imperishable record that they shall revert as quickly as they conveniently can to the positions and stations in life that they occupied in pre-war days. And hero we would sound a note of warning, though we hope no offence will bo taken at our remarks or that improper motives be imputed to us. But we say unhesitatingly, and tho ‘Star’ will uncompromisingly attack any suggestion of a’ “ wait-and-see” policy, that it is the immediate duty of ah sections of employers to see to it that whenever and wherever a returned soldier, who is both fit, well, and willing, presents himself in quest of his old job he shall get it. no matter who may suffer through having to vacate in his favor. That is the only kind of recognition of duty done that the community will tolerate, and there ought not to bo even a whisper of compulsion being necessary, as apparently is the case in New South Wales, to ensure our renowned “diggers” coming into their own.

The Home Coming: A Warm Welcome.

A final word as to tho, men who coma book bruieed in body and racked in mind through tho awful - trials they had to undergo while on active service. Again we affirm that it is tho solo duty of the State to make provision.,, for tho future well-being of all such mon,- and that this duty shall not be discharged with either a niggardly hand or with an unsympathetic conscience. The ‘ Star ’ will always stand for the generous treatment of the men who have come through this terrible ordeal with tho loss of limb, or sight, or hearing, and who cannot perforce attempt ■what the average healthy individual can do. Tho State, and not private nor public charity, must supply everything that is needed for tho preservation in comfort of tho remaining days of these poor victims of Hun cruelty; and woe betide any Administration who shirk their just obligations to those who have borne the shock and trials of nearly five years of bloody warfare the like of which tha world has never before known.