THE MARRIAGE PROBLEM

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3852, 30 November 1917, Page 2

THE MARRIAGE PROBLEM

Amlongst a batch of Australian soldiers who returned! to Sydney recently, was a. smiling youth. The first words he said were : "Well, I'm still single, notwithstanding that I have been to Scotland." Then he explained. "Nobody seems to know why, but the Australians and Scotch are balmy about one another. The start of it is in the trenches. They are great pals in the firing line. Any Australian of furlough is sure of a great time if he goes to Scotland. Believe me, it is hand to remember your, girl in Australia when you get those Scotch lassies around you. Their admiration is frank, without being bold. I don't know how else to put it. This sorti of stuff is not hard to take. One consequence is that hundreds tof marriages have takens place. I don't know what our girls will say when they know that of a batch, of men who will shortly return, 300 are bringing wives home with them. There'll be some heartaches over that, I'm; thinking. I don't blame the girls over there, but it seems tough on ours here, because they won't look at a man who stays at home, and lots of the fighters are making • other arrangements. It sounds; a joke, but it is a dashed serious problem that must be faced."