AS THE SOLDIER SEES IT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 34, 19 December 1944, Page 4

AS THE SOLDIER SEES IT

WITH three years service in the Pacific to his & so * dier informed the Appeal Board at Whakatane last Wednesday that he objected to being drafted back into the forces when there were men fit, single and eligible who had never left the shores of the Dominion, and were protected by Government action by the nature of then- calling. The chairman's reply that while the Board recognised the substance of the complaint as correct in many instances, it had no jurisdiction apart from dealing with the names submitted to it, was as fair as could be expected under the circumstances. The fact remains however, that the same thought, as expressed by the Whakatane serviceman, must be exercising the minds of thousands of others who alter being practically demobilised are • now required to re-jom the army for further duty overseas, whilst others who have never left these shores are permitted to remain undisturbed at their civilian occupations. No doubt more rigorous etforts will be: made to despatch all fit single men to camp this time, but the fact remains that there are still tar too many anomalies allowed to exist, it being difficult to justily official laxity in some quarters with the harshness which is exercised in others. The appellant at last week s meeting of the board can only have voiced the sentiments which must be exercising many minds in New Zealand at the present time.