SOLDIER TOPICS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12754, 25 September 1919, Page 7

SOLDIER TOPICS.

ITEMS OF INTEREST TO “DIGGERS.” (Written for th© “Star.”) Tho writer of the following notes is contributing a, weekly column to the “ Star,” dealing with subjects of topical interest to returned men. Inquiries may be addressed to “ Dngout,” care o! the “Star” Office, and returned men desiring information or advice are invited to communicate with the writer, who wni do bis best to help them. After many months of waiting, the announcement was made on .Friday last that the Government had' decided to pay a gratuity to the “diggers” of Is . 6d a day during th© period of absence from New Zealand, and, further, that it is to he paid out . almost immediately. Needless to say the news was received with great joy, and the “gratuity smile” could be seen on every face. The Government’s offer is considered to be a fair and reasonable expression of the country’s gratitude to its soldiers, and it cannot be said that many of the “diggers” themselves are discontented over the proposals. A few months ago the most that was expected as a gratuity, was a payment of Is a day, from date of embarkation in New Zealand to date of discharge- There were, of course, a good many who hoped for more, but the expression was frequently heard that “ a bob a day would be all right.” But as the delay became greater, so did the expectations increase. Many there will be, who will ask for more, and the conditions of payment will come in for criticism. The “ digger ” himself is, on the average, a philosophical person, and will accept what is given to him, with a feeling of gratitude, If the amount is increased to 2s or 2s 6d a day, he will welcome the extra payment, hut he will not feel very bitter against anyone, if it remains at the Government’s offer of Is 6d a day. In Christchurch, at anyrate, Is 6d is regarded as a fair payment, but naturally' no “ digger ” will refuse a larger amount if the politicians think ho should hav© it. In making the decision not to pay the gratuity to the soldier in hard, cash, but instead to transfer it to the Post Office Savings Bank or other bank for him. Sir James Allen “had shown commendable discretion. Gratuity money, if paid out in one sum to the soldier entitled to it, would he re- - garded in some instances as “ easy money,” and the tendency would be to spend it carelessly. But even the most thriftless “ digger ” is inclined to think twice about drawing money out of the bank unless it is required for a special purpose. A suggestion Eas been made that the money should be paid in the form of war bonds, hut this would be a most undesirable course to adopt, because it would penalise men who really need the money at present. Returned soldiers who are contemplating marriage, or who are married, mostly require the money as soon as it is available, and war bonds cannot always be sold for cash at short notice. The application forms for the gratuity are now available at post offices, and a,big demand has been, , made for them. Coincidentally with its decision to pay tho war gratuity, the Government announced its intention to pay married separation allowances and children’s allowances, with retrospective effect from the_ time' the soldier went into camp, provided that he aftewrards went overseas. This is a most important concession, and has only been made after repeated applications by the executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association. The justice ot the claim has been long recognised, but the Government refused to do anything until Parliament met. Another smaller matter, but in which an important principle is involved, is the announcement that men who received territorial rates of pay during the Erst four weeks in camp, will now have their pay made up to Expeditionary Force rates for that period- Although this represents a payment of only 28s to the men concerned, it is a matter which had “ hung fir© ” for quit© a long time. It is a , peculiar circumstance of life that many people fail to grasp opportunities when they are within reach, and later when they realise what has been missed, express their regret in no uncertain terms. Of course it is quite time that regret for what one has missed will not recall tho opportunities again, and many “ diggers ” realise this, when they think of the educational facilities they missed while in the Expeditionary Force- To pat the matter quite plainly the great majority of the men did not appreciate the good intentions of the authorities in providing courses of instruction in various subjects, and it was an open secret that where the classes were compulsory a i certain amount of resentment was ex- ; pressed by the “diggers.” But once they are repatriated into civil life, the men realise what golden opportunities i they have allowed to slip through. On I the other hand there are men with suf- : ficient forethought to comprehend the position, who have obtained free training at thd 5 great universities and engi- : peering schools under the educational system. Through availing themselves of this instruction' they have certainly delayed their return to New Zealand, but they should never have cause to regret their action. ■When one looks hack on tho past year and contemplates the great number of soldiers who have returned from the. war, the remarkable fact is disclosed that practically all of these men have been absorbed into civil employment without any difficulty. It is a tribute to our excellent system of re?*Rriation that snch a happy state of iffairs should exist, and it is a hopeful alga of the prosperity- of the country. .The write)* had ocasion to go aboard a recent transport which arrived a tLyttelton, before the troops had disembarked, and the question which was conoeramS » good number of the men was whether there were any jobs left for rnem., Fortunately their fears were unnecessary because automatically, as if by some miracle, jobs are available practically for all. men willing to work soon after their arrival. From week to week, the Repatriation Board has a number of men on the unemployment register, but even so, there is ample work for all, if a man is not too , ’’m bis tastes. Soon the last of the soldiex-s will have returned, and no on© need have anv fea r about work being found for them. One difficulty, of course, is that men who previously were satisfied to tfork in the country now wish to stay in the cities, buhafter a whde they get back to what soda them best. The decision of the Repatriation Board to call the attention of th© Ministerial Board to the necessity for a regulation to the effect that no person should be allowed to start in a new business without first obtaining permission to do so, has for its object the protection of soldiers established in business by the board, and is therefore a commendable. Bat at the same time the board should see to it that it does not' establish returned soldiers in businesses which are already greatly overdonh in Christchurch. Lately the board haa been much concerned because a Chinaman has opened up a fruit shop • ' in opposition to returned soldiers, and while it is most unfortunate that this should be the case, the board should seriously consider whether it should assist .any more soldiers to open up fruit shops. It would he far better if only soldiers .unable, to undertake day but light employment were assisted into this class of business in the future. “DUGOUT,”