TREATMENT OF SOLDIERS

Nelson Evening Mail, 17 May 1917, Page 3

TREATMENT OF SOLDIERS

INDIGNATION IX 1 OTAGO. GOVJERNAIENT UJRG ED TO REMEDY MATT El ;S. {Umitmd PXESS AssociATiojr.) [DUNEDIN, May 14. At a malting ol" the Patriotic Association to-day the Government's action in regard to soldiers was severely criticised. Dealing with the promised financial assistance to men going on active service, the Mayor said they read that allowances up to £-2 per week have been arranged for, but the committee's experience was that the regulation was so surrounded by official red-tape that it was exceedingly difficult for a soldier to get any assistance. There were many cases in which genuine claims were made, .but the Government appeared to look for every possible loophole to avoid do ing what they had advertised they were willing to do. The inadequacy! of the amount (30s) of mufti allowance also was touched upon, and the Mayor concluded by strongly, condemning the practice of men who had broken down 10 training being turned out and told to find their own way. Many men returned to find .positions filled, and were unable to earn a livelihood. Yet the Government repudiated respoosibility. He hoped' public sentiment would be aroused to such an extent that the Government would be compelled to take some steps to remedy the matter. Air Solomon, speaking of financial assistance to the soldiers, said it was a grave mistake not to make generous and expeditious provision for engagements entered iuto by persons volunteering. The general experience was that things Government had expressed the intention of doing had not been done, and the failure of the Government to provide money for this purpose was actually defeating the stroog necessity for ob taming all possible men at once. iMr At'Allen said the delay in dispatch of military pay to men was amazing. Mr Fenwick said he spoke as an earnest supporter of the .■National Government, but they were straining his loyalty to breaking point. The Government did not realise" their duty to the men who had displayed willingness to serve, but had broken* down under training. It was time every association took the matter up, and induced such a wave of public objection to tbe dilatoiiness of the Government as would compel them to reform their ways.

The Mayor 'said th e delay in giving xneii what was due to them was a scandal. They received £5 w"hen they landed in New Zealand, and then had to wait a month or two months before they got another sixpence. It was impossible for men, some of them married and' with children, to exist eicht weeks on £5. The-Hon. J. T. Paul said there seemed to be a distinct clash between civic ideal and official ideal. The citizens desiredi that the men should be treated decently, but the official mind was not treating them decently. Some cases were extremely bad, and the treatment meted out was stupid and disgusting to zue public. It was quite apparent that it would yet be necessary to force the Government to do its duty. Dean Fitchett said the thing seemed to represent a miserable triumph of officials, in which cases were lost in a labyrinth of officialdom and forms. They ■must find some way of making the Minister exercise his power over his subordinates.

A motion, by 'Mr Fenwick, that representations should be made to the Acting-Prime 'Minister was carried xmanimously.