The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1919. RETURNED SOLDIERS

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14052, 3 May 1919, Page 4

The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1919. RETURNED SOLDIERS

It is sincerely to be hoped thqt there is no possibility of any conflict of opinion arising between returned soldiers and the general mass of the community. It may seem to many people absurd to suggest that such a position could arise, but if they will take the trouble to read the papers, and will supplement the information therein by their own observation, they will come to the conclusion that such a thing is at least possible. The returned soldiers have many grounds of complaint against the Government, mainly on account of the delays involved in obtaining the assistance towards the purchase of house or land which has been promised by regulations. These complaints are so general and so persistent that it is hard to believe that there is no justification. The complaint, however, is not only against the Government; it is also against the private employer of labour, and the statement is made that the returned man not only does not get any preference, but that he does not get as good a show as those who have not fought for their country. It is sincerely to be '■ hoped that there is no truth in this statement, and there can be no doubt that it is incorrect in very many in--stances. At the same time, there are grounds for thinking that there is occa- ; sional cause for complaint. No doubt there are employers who could tell of difficulties with returned men. Unforlunately there is nothing in the military life to make a man who was an unsatisfactory workman before the war any better after his experiences; on the contrary, it has in some cases created a restlessness which is likely to trouble its possessor for some years to I come. Even worse than that is the •

habit of waiting for orders, and lack of initiative which a prolonged military experience breeds. We do not expect this latter weakness to trouble many of our men, because it is foreign to their characteristics, but we shall be surprised if complaint is not made on this head from some of the older countries. We are not prepared to say that all the rights of the case are on one side, even if the charge of refusing a fair hearing to the soldiers be proved; but admitting that there maj' be iiults and weaknesses among the men, and that as they were vol all saints when they went away they are rot likely to be such when they re'.urn, we repeat that it will be a serious misfortune if the feelinggains ground that there is a prejudice agtinst the returned soldier. After all, they are the men with whom resis the immediate future of the country. They are not boys; a large proportion are maimed men. who had already established a position in life. Even those who went away young have grown into manhood during the war, and if by any possibility the men as a body come to think that there is a prejudice against them as soldiers, the seeds of very bitter feeling and very much disunion will infallibly be sown.

We spoke of the delays of the Government in meeting the demand for advances .; and, considering the urgency of the case, we think that greater expedition should certainly be shown. It is admitted that the most desirable course is to return the men to civil life as quickly as possible, and delays of this kind are a serious hindrance. The paralysis which has fallen on the Government is possibly as mischievous in this direction as in any of the others of which complaint has been made. Then, again, the endeavour has been made to treat the dependents of those who have Joined up since conscription was introduced better than the dependents of those who volunteered in the early days. Orders-in-Council and regulations have been made with alarming ease at various times, while at other times it seems impossible to obtain action. The Government must realise that the claim for equality of treatment is just. The scale of allowances may be too high, but that is no reason for discrimination between men with equal claims; and the Minister should have at least agreed to bring the matter be'ore Parliament. It is questions of this kind which will lead to the formation of a Soldiers' Party, which will be supported by very many who have themselves no cause for complaint; It will be regrettable if such a party should come into' existence, but then those in authority should not act in such a manner as to lead to it. An Incident has been reported from Auckland which on the face of it is likely to lead to much comment. The University Council invited applications for the position of Assistant Law Lecturer, and amongst those who applied was an officer who possessed the necessary qualifications, who had seen consider-' able service, and had been wounded and. partially disabled. Another man was preferred to him, who had not got nearer the front than the training camp. The soldier wrote to the council and complained, and the council discussed his letter in open meeting, so as to make their position clear to the public. They agreed that while the attainments of the two.men were about equal, the successful man had the greater clarity of address, and had not been in practice for himself, while the soldier had been practising for some time before enlist- . ing. These reasons will hardly seem so satisfactory to the public as they seem to have been to the Council. It has been pointed out that the soldier held a slightly better degree than his successful rival, while whatever practice he may have had before the war is likely to have suffered during his absence. A decision of this kind is likely to lend colour to the belief that returned soldiers are not wanted, and it is not everyone who knows of the unfortunate capacity of University Councils to do the wrong thing. We end as we began, by deploring the possibility of any feeling arising that soldiers are not getting a fair hearing. Not only should Government and public bodies of every kind stretch a point in their favour on all occasions, but private employers also should make the necessary effort to give such men every chance. It is but a short time since we wanted them badly; many of them sacrificed property and prospects, and incurred the risk of illness, wounds or death. If we are now to ignore these things because the men show the ordinary weaknesses of human nature, with perhaps some" others due to their experiences, we shall disgrace ourselves, and create a cynical outlook on life which is bound to react on us all in many ways, and all. unfortunate.