The Returned Men.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20328, 11 June 1934, Page 6

The Returned Men.

Dear Sir, —Being a returned soldier and a financial member of the R.S.A., 1 now take the liberty of asking you to put this letter in the ‘‘ Star ” on a very serious problem concerning not only every returned man but also every mother and father throughout New Zealand, for if their turn did not occur in the last war to suffer, well it will come in the future. I myself know what suffering is. I served my country for three and a half years in the Great War of 1914 until 1918, returning home invalided with shrapnel wounds. Other returned men left New Zealand, like myself, strong and fit young men, to return wrecks to be forgotten and cast off like some old worn-out garment. Alas, the Government soon forgot its word to make New Zealand a better place for us to live in when we returned. Things are much worse owing to us war wrecks not being able to compete with the young men, who call us fools, and they are right, for they still have their health and are therefore able to hold their ends up and we cannot, therefore they get preference and we go hungry because we were heroes, now forgotten.

In conclusion I would like to say that we are not asking for charity in the way of pensions, but let the Government keep its promises and find us suitable occupations at a decent living wage, so that we in our old age and fast-failing strength can live happily with our all, our loved ones. Now I appeal to all returned men as well as all others to get together and put up a fight for what we were promised and are justly entitled to, and then should the Government not take heed, well, you know what to do at the next election.—l am, etc., THREE AND A HALF YEARS A SOLDIER.