UNEMPLOYED SOLDIERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22860, 15 October 1937, Page 15

UNEMPLOYED SOLDIERS

Sir, —" Disgusted Soldier," in your issue of October 11, expresses his grievances very mildly, considering the circumstances. There are many returned soldiers in New Zealand—disabled and unemployed, who, through no fault of their own, have been forced to a burden on the country. Time and again we have been told how much the Government has done for returned men. Those who have been fortunate to receive benefits are in a minority to the deserving cases who have time and again been turned down. I have realised through bitter experience, and my case would make interesting reading for your paper, that returned men are simply not wauted. We are a burden to the country. We are now paying the penalty of being useful during the war years. We are not even allowed to own one-eighth of an acre of the country we were such " heroes " to fight for, without being penalised and so much deducted each month from the pension. This Government has not fully restored the pension, which was cut during the depression—and that' cut, I suppose, is helping to build magnificent railway stations, etc. " Disgusted Soldier " must realise that our dav is done; there are no more " bucksliee parcels." We took the unpardonable liberty of returning alive. Fadkd Kiiaki.