CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16724, 27 April 1920, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

We arc not responsible for views expressed by correspondents. The writer’s name, as a guarantee of good faith, must be enclosed in the letter. THE PRINCE’§ BODYGUARD. TO IH3 EDITOR. Sir,—l seo by your paper of Saturday last that in the arrangements »f or the reception of flic Prince of AValcs that the High School Cadets are to provide the Guard of Honour. Now, Sir, why aro the returned soldiers, who fought and bled for their country, not given that honourable position of receiving ono of their comrades of such distinguished rank? Is it because they are only common soldiers? I have heard a great deal of comment on the question by returned soldiers. Trusting, Sir, you Will be able to give the returned soldiers a satisfactory reason why they were not picked.—l am, etc., NOT A RETURNED SOLDIER. RETURNED SOLDIERS. ’ TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I think it time sonic of the returned soldiers should protest against the callous treatment some of them aro getting, especially those returning suffering from wounds and shell-shock. Think of the poor follow at Auckland hunted and driven from every place he tried to got shelter. Yet every one who saw him owned lie was off his mental balance, hut thought it not worth their while to see to him. Then there is the ease of a New Zealander dying of starvation in Sydney. To come .nearer homo, look' at the treatment of Major Hine, and how a returned soldier was turned down by the Education Board. This is what we get- from people who stayed at home and grow fat in cushy jobs while we sweated in the trenches.—l am, etc., GASSED. THE 1914-15 STAB. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Is it too late to arrange for the Prince of Wales to present the returned soldiers of New Plymouth and environs with then - 1914-15 star. My husband has just 'received a note from tho Government asking him if he wished to receive his star by registered post or have a state parade.—l am, etc., M. JEFFRIES.

MALE CHOIR CONCERT. TO THE EDIIOR. Sir, —In the programme of fo-night’s concert, the Male Choir Society refer to Mr. Hunt’s first recitation once as as “The Highwayman,” by “Alfred Worgis,” and also.as by “Alf. Norges.” Alf! May I mildly protest against calling Alfred Noyes by a wrong name? Ho is by no means an inconsiderable poet, “The Highwayman” being one of his minor but most dramatic pieces. But no one could be called “Alf” and bo a poet—one is tempted but for the respect due to our only musical society to say “not ’arf!” —Yours, etc.,, “JOHN DOE.” April 27, 1920. “UNBBITISH AND UNSPORTSMANLIKE.” TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The 'above quotation contains the point, the pith, and the inside of nearly all the resolutions set up and passed at Mr. plasters’ meetings durinjr the present contest for the Straford scat. These resolutions were “cut and dried,” and made ready for a given purpose, and simple pqople are, got to move, second, and approve of them, •without thought of whether they are true or false, just or unjust. Having no case, tho only way to meet the position is to abuse the other side. _ Tho whole object of their resolutions is to abuse and discredit Mr. Hine, and to blur and distort his conduct and actions. There is no call to explain what “UnBritish and unsportsmanlike,” really means, as everybody knows that they mean that which is unmanly, or that which is unworthy of a true man. Well, now, how does the matter really stand as between Mr. Masters and Mr. Hine, as regards/'ferae manliness. In the greatest crisis this poor world was ever in; when tho greatest war was on that ever, afflicted "the human race; when all that wo hold as indispensable to our welfare and happiness was imperilled; when our noblo British Empire was tottering on its foundations, what did the heroic Mr. Hine do ? Like tho true Britisher who never takes a beating until ho is heaton, Major Jack .Hine Dade goodbye to his home, to his wife _ and children, to his Parliamentary position, and to his native country, and voyaged away many thousands of miles to meet ihe'foe, anti to fight 'and bleed and to die. for you and for me! When'ho recovered, after having been shot through the lungs, he again went to the front and saw the thing through. When the war was over and wo were all in safety and pence again, the general election came mi and through the laxity of his friends and tho activities of his opponents, Mr. Hine found that his Parliamentary billot had been filched from him—the re turned soldier had been treated like an outlaw. But Mr. Hine is a natural fighter, and lie did not “knuckle down.” Ho found out that unlawful things had been found to cut the returned soldier out of his billet; that the law as affecting elections had been violated, and that it was his duty and privilege to fight thtf* thing out'to the last ditch, and to win, or to perish there. By the' verdict of the High Court that tried the case, Mr. Erne's opponent was unseated. There are the plain and simple facts, and they speak for themselves. Mr. Hine w<snt to the war when honour alone had any call ou him to go. He fought and bled for you and for me'; he nearly died for us.; and yet again he wont out and fought for ns! Only one thing could have justified Mr. Masters in even trying to put a returned soldier out of his billet, and that would have had to ho the endangerment of a high moral principle But there was no moral principle involved requiring Mr Masters’ interference —tho moral principles wore all tlio other way. In vain did tho moral principles plead to Mr. Masters to put his paltry ambitions in his pocket, and so meet tho demand of Parliament and country alike, “That Uio returned soldier be allowed to resumo his former position.”—l am. etc., J. 0. TAYLOR. , April 24, 1920.