RELIEF WORKERS’ MEETING.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1933, Page 7

RELIEF WORKERS’ MEETING.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—ln the report of the meeting of the Relief Workers’ Union appearing'in to-day’s Daily News an interesting and at the same time disturbing condition of affairs is mentioned by Mr. Baird. He states that “six of the eight men on the union executive are ex-soldiers” (usually known as “returned soldiers”), and that “50 or 60 per cent, of the members of the union are also returned men.” These figures must surely be disturbing to the public conscience, and one would like to know what percentage, or number, of returned soldiers are out of work in New Zealand. F wonder if the R.S.A. has any information on this score, and if so, would it publish the figures? It .is surely a reproach to the leaders of religion, industry and political life in this wealthy country that the cream of a generation, the men who generously offered their lives to protect the institutions of the Empire, should now be practically in the position of begging for subsistence for themselves and families. How ironical it is that the past deeds of these men should be forgotten and their present lives wasted—they whose supreme virtue was courage. After years of depression one still notices many evidences of luxurious living and the misspending of money by wealthy people. Surely something might be done out of this surplus wealth to wipe out this crime of soldiers’ unemployment.—l am, etc., J. C. WALSH. Eltham, August 22,