RETURNED SOLDIERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23060, 10 June 1938, Page 15

RETURNED SOLDIERS

Sir, —Referring to the letter over the nom de plume "Review," in the Herald of June 3, I believe that many of your readers, like myself, will be most surprised to learn that a totally disabled soldier, a single man, receives only £3 5s per week in pension and economic pension. Under present-day conditions such a sum can provide only a meagre existence, and as the condition of these men is entirely due to their patriotism in serving their country in its hour of need, it is the obvious duty of the country to see that their wants are properly catered for when they are unable to fend for themselves. To-day nothing less than £4 10s per week could be deemed an adequate sum. Equity.

Sir,—The Labour Government says the returned soldiers are satisfied. Well, I, for one, am not. I received an allowance from the last Government of £1 per week, and I still receive the same, but the pound is now worth only about los, owing to increased costs. I still have to pay the unemployed levy of 5s per quarter, which I understood this Government was going to wipe out; instead of this, we are taxed more. I do light work, and for this I jjet my food, which is worth 10s per week. Apart from this, I am not allowed to earn one penny. I have to get medicine and diet, which leaves me with next to nothing for clothes. As far as tobacco is concerned, if I have a little tobacco I have to go without something else. This is a poor reward for volunteering to fight for God's own country. This Government has brought in extra allowances and increased pensions to all except the soldiers, who seem to be penalised for not being killed in France or on Gallipoli. Once Bitten, Twice Shy.