RETURNED SOLDIERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 9247, 14 January 1916, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS

MB WILFOBD'S BEPLY TO CAPv ■ TAIN SIMSON.

In- reply to the letter (reported in yesterday's "Times") from Captain Simson to Mr T. M. Wilford, the latter has written as follows :

"Dear Sir, —Many thanks for yours ro returned soldiers for the opportunity thereby given me of correcting the misstatements attributed to me and referred to by you. I never stated at any time or anywhere that 'when I arrived in Rotorua I was deeply prejudiced against the soldiers/ etc. "What I did say was 'that on my arrival at Botorua attempts had been made by a small section of the people there to deeply prejudice me against the return-, ed soldiers' at the Sanatorium.' I further stated that I immediately interviewed Dr Herbert, in charge theru. who stated that the men were really good fallows, though naturally bored to death at times. I think the world of our soldiers going to fight or returning, and as they are pledging their lives for New Zealand, so New Zealand must .pledge itself for them. Some attempt to smudge the returned soldiers at Botorua Sanatorium must have boon lent out from Botorua, for on the iourney from Botorua to Wellington, on Tuesday last I met a high State functionary from Wellington, who in a half whisper askod me if the soldiers in the Sanatorium were behaving themselves, and again at Hamilton when I was putting in time till the south express left I was asked by a military man whether Colonel Newoll had been able to bring the men to see things in a proper light. I told him pretty forcibly that my holiday party had been in Botorua for two weeks prior to Colonel Newell's arrival, and that though we had seen the men every day' either in their quarters or in the Sanatorium grounds, or in the public streets, they had not been guilty of any act of any kind which would even cause eyebrows to be raised, let alone public made. I may say that at the Sanatorium there are some of the finest men I nave ever met, and we deemed it a privilege to know them and it is only when one really knows them'"'that one why Sir lan Hamilton! designated them supermen. I am sure tho gentleman who telegraphed the report of my speech sent ■what ho believed to be a condensation of my remarks, but the station platform was a swaying mass of travellers and residents who were cheering again and again when complimentary references were made to the soldiers —the engine whistle was going full strength to help the cheering—and I am not surprised that mistakes should have been made."