IMPERIAL EX-SOLDIERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20899, 13 December 1929, Page 10

IMPERIAL EX-SOLDIERS.

A DIFFICULT PROBLEM. INACTION OF HOME AUTHORITIES. (Peb United Pbess Association.) „ WELLINGTON, December 12. ■ i? en come from dther parts 1 of the British dominions and who have now broken down in health are not the responsibility of any local patriotic fund and apparently the National War Fund* Council cannot continue to grant assistance,” said Mr J. Mason, president of the Napier Returned Soldiers’ Associatwtt’ in giving evidence before the Soldiers Rehabilitation Commission. “Some reciprocal arrangement should be made, and I think whatever further assistance is recommended by the commission it should be made clear that such assistance is not for the benefit of men who may come- here in the future. Otherwise we will have an influx of men who are desirous of obtaining all the benefits conferred on New Zealand returned soldiets/ “A most inexplicable thing to us is the Imperial Government." remarked Mr J. S Barton, S.M. (chairman of the commit sion). Earl Jclhcoe went -Home fully appnsed of the serious nature of the problem, and simply battered himself uselessly against official silence, and had to admit having accomplished nothin" Other officers have fared the same way.’ The members of the Government seem to shelter behind the permanent heads, and the permanent heads think that men were made for the rules and not the rules for the men. We are going to try. I hopo the new High Commissioner can do sometl,lnp - J. arn K° in ~ do something next year. There are 20.000 Imperial men in this country. It is a very heavy burden. If we did do anything we would simply invite others to come out. The net result of continual applications by influential bodies here has been nil.”