TREATMENT OF SOLDIERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14364, 15 May 1920, Page 6

TREATMENT OF SOLDIERS.

(To the Kdifor.) -if,—f have scad from time In time in papers of 11 1 c <|ny comments on relumed soldiers in different spheres of life, and the majority have been so grossly unfair dial I feel the lime has come when some reply |o these comments should he made. First, sir, I would like to say that, if a returned soldier frets into any trouble it is always remarked that he or they arc returned soldiers. When recruits were wanted for the front these men came forward readily for service. Many of them yave up their objects in life for the cause of Britain, and many left little ones and ayed and infirm parents, invalided brothers and sisters. When these men were yoiny away there were fat politicians and others burstiny with patriotism hlowiny off steam in every town and village on every platform in Lite country wishing them Hod-speed, waviny their I'ninn .lacks, and eheermy themselves hoarse. They then went home In make plans as to how money could he made in the quickest and easiest way. and not only (tie cleanest way. Our Ministers of the Crown are not Hie best at showiny they were not like a lot of barber’s cats—all wind. At the present time we have the refusal of tramway boards to yive the maimed men a free ride on the cars, while the same men vote themselves free rides. Do you remember the treatment of the men in hospital at Trenlham a short time ayo. and at the present lime we have sanatoria in this country where

tlic men have slept in open shelters l'or the past seven Lo nine months with n'j light at night in all weathers but the everyday candle, not even .'in apoldgy for a hot-water service for the flrsl live or six months, while nearly all, if not all, the recreations, fruit, cakes, come from the Y.M.C.A. or Red Cross. So much for the way in which the men are being treated in these places. The

soldier set Hers are coming- in for a good deal of adverse criticism: these men

i are not treated in the way they shouid jhe in many cases. Sir, there is a difference of over 12 per cent, between the buying price from tin.' owner and 111-: price il is let to the soldi'r. The men in many cases went on Ihe land when farming commodities were at a high value, when the lack of foresight on Ihe pari of the Covernnietit. compelled ! these men to go to Ihe fat prolltee.,\ who cheered them away to the war. and pay absurd prices for ihe materia! which the (Jovornmenl should have procured themselves. Although the soldiers are condemned, no one can say why. After 80.000 men had left for Ihe front. Ihe police were exempt, an I wanted to keep the resl who were left in order and to watch for profiteers. ".Main Body's" letter which appeared in one of your issues lately, shows how much the stop-at-horne man shows his thanks for the suffering of the soldier to keep him comfortable with a nice, wludo skin. I venture to say, sir, had not ihe U.S.A. been in existence Ihe men would have seen whal the promises made to them were worth. There is more and more need for men to stick |u Ihe U.S.A., asi a means of consolidating their action for better treatment for everyone and to see thai the widows and orphans get a fair spin. Much more could he said about T.B. and limbless men and oilier things; but if the war is over, sir, it surely is enough for the mon to know that they are nol wauled without letting lliein think they are looked upon as a burden. —I am. etc. TIRED TIM.