TREATMENT OF EX-SOLDIERS

Nelson Evening Mail, 21 May 1917, Page 6

TREATMENT OF EX-SOLDIERS

r STATEMENT BY DEFENCE , MINISTER. ! REPLY TO RECENT CRITICISM. 1 "SPECIFIC I-NvST ANDES" ASKED ; FOR- , (United Press Association.; [ DUNEDIN, This Day. Sir James Allen has forwarded a let- ; ter to the Mayor in regard to complaints voiced at fthe last meeting of the Patriotic Association of the treatment of soldiers. The Minister emphatically denies that "the Government look for every possible loophole to avoid' doing what they advertised' they were willing to do." With regard to what was said of the inadequacy of the mufti allowances, Sir James Allen said that a soldier on discharge, in addition to 30s mufti allowance, is entitled to have items of clothing. In regard to the statement that the men who had broken down in training in camp were turned out and told to find their own way, he asks to be given a specific instance. The difficulty the Government, ' he says, had to face was 'to prevent the State being Headed with charges which were not justifiable on account of men 'going into camp aud riot disclosing weaknesses. The soldier who -broke down in camp was placed on the same footing as far as War Pensions were concerned, as the soldier at the front. The Mayor, he said, had stated that many imen had returned to find their positions filled and titrable to earn a livelihood. He would he glad to receive instances. The Mayor had also stated that the delay in giving men pay due to them was a scandal. Tn this matter Sir James aQso askde to be supplied with specifio instances. Mayor will reply, giving "specific instances," wdiich have been brought under his notice.