GOVERNMENT AND R.S.A.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21756, 4 July 1945, Page 4

GOVERNMENT AND R.S.A.

Sir, —I want to say that I am in ugveement with Reg. No. 72027 wherein ho says that the attitude of the R.S.A. toward the (Joveriimeht in regard to its decision to grant ' a right of appeal to-the cohscicneious ob- • jectors (military defaulters) to have their cases reheard. The attitude adopted by the executive heads of the R.S.A. is definitely political. A glance at the names of those who guide the destinies ot the. Gishorne R.S.A. leaves no doubt in my mind as to where the political, ambitions of - these gentlemen lay. These non-political outfits in the main are designed to hoodwink both the members of the organisations and "the general public. Of course the Old Grey Mure," the depression in spite of all tempts by the opponents of the present Government to dodge the issue, is still a very real and a tragic memory of a lot of the old soldiers of World War No. 1. In your attempt, Mr, Editor, to come to the rescue of the R.S.A. vou draw attention to the fact that Reg. No." 72527 is not too clear as to what the lpcal R.S.A. did to lighten the burden of the returned men during the depression. I note that you didn’t mention the method the R.S.A. had of subsidising the returned men in jobs such-as gardening for people who were well able and did pay iuli wages to the men they employed before the r.S;A. found this method of spending the « 'monies subscribed by'the public. • I 'know of a number of men, some of whom were the fathers of returned men -who lost their jobs as gardeners through this system of the R.S.A. Neither did you mention the plight of World War No. 1 veterans when they were forced to go into “slave camps” at rates of pay that were a disgrace after they bud given of their best for their country. No, it is your memory that needs a refresher course.- —9/23(58. (Could anything he perfect in the most imperfect times New Zealand has ever known 7 As our correspondent has remarked, the depression is a tragic memory. But whether it should be kept alive as “a very real issue" is another matter. Cun it. rightfully be claimed for instance that there is more justification ■ for giving publicity to what was not done during the slump than there is for drawing , attention to what certain members of the present Cabinet did not do during tile last ■ war? The editorial pencil has invariably deleted from correspondence all adverse references to ministerial records. This is a , policy which will be continued. People . should lie judged on their more recent performances. —Ed., Herald. I