THE RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

Observer, Volume XL, Issue 25, 21 February 1920, Page 26

THE RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

By Sapper

A Liva Department. XpOR a State Department there is A an exceedingly practical and human atmosphere about the. Repatriation Department, Avhich in one year has dpne enough to allow the Government to live down four years of neglect and indifference Ift) the disabled soldier. The Repatriation Department-, through its officers and the local boards, has a habit of quickly ascertaining the needs of soldiers, and just as quickly sets to meet these need* in a, practical and businesslike manner. It is a maifcter for great thankfulness that the Department Avas not damned at the outset with the ordinary type of civil servant, who has more *to * do Avith the muddling nedtapeishness Avhich has retarded progress and development- than is usually believed. The Repatriation Department has gone out and got therfe while other Departments would have been preparing schemes and lading down bogie principles, and playing the sleeping goat generally. » * * "After Care." The latest extension of the Department's activities is the establishment of an "after care" branch, *he one and only objectionable feature being its name. "After care" is the sort of descriptive title one would expect the Y.M.C.A. ok. a mother's lamb institution to use. However, the idea is so good that we can put up with its "sob sister" sort of title. The aim of this branch is to seek out "lamte ducks," help them into some congenial path. In the first ijistamce. hoAvever, the T.B. men are to be talked with, and their needs and hopes .ascertained. The disabled man avlio has not come W the Department for help or training wiH be dug up, and offered the glad and helping hand. * - * Obligation Admitted. In deciding onfthis line of action, the Department has adopted a principle laid' down in this column a nusabor of times, and that is that the. obligations of the State are njot limited by the number of men who ask for financial Assistance and itaihing. The State's obligation applies in the greatest degnee, perhaps, to the men wfco, by reason of active service, have lost initiative and enterprise to such an extent that they are ready to drift into the backwaters of life, from which they become less and less able tp drag themselves. * * * The Only Way. The I|apatriatio» Department has wisejly enosen to use the persosfal methodW-not the impersonal circular—which made the former Discharged Soldiers' Information Department the, most helpless, ineffectual, oad sorry offices that ever disgraced a government. Given the right officers—and the Department seems io have the gift of chosing the right men—-Avondere ought to be accomplished among the men who are lingering in tfie no man's land ef civil life. » . * * Gratuities, The recent comments of a learned judge upon the consequences of a certain number of soldiers squanderi*g their gratuities were perfectly 3mstifi*d, dad »«id har* caused the

GIVE HIM 'HIS CUES!

R.S.A. no anxiety, AA-ere it not for the fact that there are thousands of people who jump at such a statement to condemn returned" soldiers generally, sweeping aside the judge's reservations, and thousands of others, not necessarily uneducated,, avlio form an opinion from a newspaper heading. And this sort of chatter goes on. * * * . The Slanderers. Mrs. A. to Mrs. B.: "Did you see what the judge said about tbe returned soldiers—squandering their gratuities? Isn't it awful?" Mrs. B.: "But Avas he not alluding to a cfozon or so men?" Mrs. A.: "Oh, I don't think so. They say that since this money Avas paid out most returned soldiers hare been leading lives of aAvful dissipation. I heard that—(a long and slanderous whisper here takes place). Of course, you know that most of them (more slanderous whispers). My husband, I'm so glad he was given exemption, and hadn't to associate with these awful men —says that the gratuity AA-as a shocking waste of money, and should never haA'e been given—specially Avhen they waste it like tfliis." * * * Our Revilers. That's the sort of mud they are throAving at us. They conveniently forget that the majority of returned soldiers who have been coiiA-icteeT on serious charges had criminal records before the war, and they know nothing and Avant to knoAv nothing of the thousands and thousands of returned men who have simply added, their gratuity to already substantial bank credits, or avlio have expended it for the benefit of their Avives and families,, and for reproductive purposes. One man of the writer's acquaintance spent every penny of it in muchneeded manure for his farm, dozens handed it to the Repatriation Department against loans, and in many instances men have found it of great *se in setting up housekeeping. « • • The Comedians. It is rather amusing to find that men unfit or essential Avho to-day are enjoying luxury Avhich war profits made possible, are among the slanderers of returned soldiers. They sit in judgment upon us— the men Avho helped to keep them flbfe. It is Avell that the majority of opinion is against the tar barrel and feathers. After all, the returned soldier, knowing what he knows, can afford to smile. What would some of these men not give to know what it feels like te lie still with bullets whizzing by and shells bursting around—what the great adventure really was. ' m • • "Quick March." "Quick March," the journal of the Returned Soldiers, will he two years of age next month, and has shown a steady improvement in each issue. The February issue, which is just to hand, is evidence that it is possible to produce an magazine of general interest while giving all attention to matters of particular concern to the returned, soldier. The February issue contains many excellent features,

Clande JeAvell Avrites entertainly abomt shearers and shearing sheds in Australia 30 years ago ; there is a story by Will Lawson; " Old Timer" writes of a picturesque old pakeha Maori of the long ago; there are articles of topical interests and others of direct interest to soldiers, and many illustrations to enliven the pages.

Altogether "Quick March" provides excellent value for sixpence, and appeals to all sorts and conditions of readers.