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Evening Star, Issue 17766, 14 September 1921, Page 4

A Strong Casa.

A wise reservation was made by tho

framers of repatriation schemes when the object of them was declared to

be to assure “as far as possible” that tho soldier, on his return from tho war, would not be placed in a worse position, than he would have been if he had never gone to it. The war aerj vico of many eoldiers has involved them in disabilities which, with the best intentions and efforts, never can bo made good to them. It is clear, however, that no disadvantages which are avoidable should require to be borne by soldiers as a consequence of their patriotism, and the soldier students who waited, yesterday upon the Council of Otago University to ask that they should be relieved from increases of fees imposed since the war bad no difficulty in making a strong case for their petition. Tho disadvantage which such students must suffer through being under the necessity of atill continuing their studies when, if they had been ineligible for war service, they might now -have been practising good professions is sufficient in itself to make it a matter of concern that it should not be unnecessarily aggravated. But the returned men who went early to tho war find that they have to pay more now for their courses than they would have done if those had been finished by them before they went, as in many cases they might have been, if the volunteers had been less eager for service. In the caso of medical students the difference amounts to no less a sum than £44 for the entire course. The same students have been nn a blotto profit by special facilities given in war time for the passing of examinations, and the bursaries of the National War Funds Council, which were freely given while the funds lasted, were not open to them on their return. The universities of other countries have been generous in their concessions to returned soldier’s, and it is not right that any of the defenders of this country should bo penalised, in effect, for their war service. Tho University is desperately short of funds, and tho Government, which might help, is in the same position; but the relief which means much to individual students who have given the beet services to their country makes no more than a small sum in the aggregate. We have no doubt that the request made by tho soldier students will bo considered by the authorities of tho University with the strongest desire to grant it, and if their desire is strong enough they will find a way.