LABOUR AND RETURNED SOLDIERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 120, 11 August 1927, Page 10

LABOUR AND RETURNED SOLDIERS

THE great majority of returned soldiers and of all other faiiv minded members of the community (independent of their political views) will resent the remarks made in the House of Representatives last evening by the member for Clutha, Mr. F. Waite, himself a returned soldier. This soldierlegislator said among other things: “Those of us who were away are becoming sickened with the interest which the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. 11. E. Holland, and the member for Christchurch South, Mr. E. J. Howard, have displayed in the returned soldiers.” He then proceeded to taunt the Labour Party with having tried to deny reinforcements to the men who were away on active service.

Mr. Waite’s statement is not boz-ne out by fact. Though some members of the section which the Labour Party represents may have opposed foolishly, and perhaps wickedly, the efforts of New Zealand in the war—even to the extent of placing obstacles in the way of recruiting—this wholesale charge of disloyalty and callous disregard of the men away on active service can only be regarded as intemperate and politically malevolent. It would be easy to show that, but for the active solicitude shown by the Labour Party for the-welfare of returned soldiers, many of them who were promised so much and offered so little would have fared very poorly. Mr. Waite will Receive very little support from returned soldiers for what most of them will regard as a diatribe against men who with sincerity have advocated their interests and sought to remedy their grievances.