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SOLDIERS' GRIEVANCES

MINISTER INTERVIEWED COMPLAINTS TO BE MADE By Telegraph.—Press Association. Aucklandi February 4.

A deputation from tlie Returned Soldiers' Association was introduced to the Minister-of Defence this morning. . Mr. Allen gave the members of the deputation a cordial welcome, and as a result of his reply to. many of their /representations, a number'of matters which have caused serious friction from time to time are now seen in a different light. A largo number of the complaints made will require departmental investigation before the Minister can make a reply, but where there seemed to ho an obvious injustice .Mr. Allen gave the assurance that he would have tho matter righted. ' ' A Staff Sergeant-Major's Conduct. Mr. J. Dickson, M.P., introduced the deputation. He said tho soldiers bad niany grievances, but in placiug tho matters before the Minister tho association desired to quote specific cases. Mr. Allen had always asked for specific information, and the deputation which .was with him bad come armed with written-evidence. Mr. Dickson, said lie personally wished to lodge a complaint as to the language and general conduct of. certain staff . sergeant-majors in dealing with returned and other soldiers. His remarks 'applied particularly to men who had to do with the issue of clothing. ■ Mr. Allen: Will you _ supply the names of the sergeant-majors? Mr. Dickson: No. I would rather not do that, Mr. Brassey (secretary of the Soldiers' Association) quoted his own case. He said that when he went for a suit " and was offered one of tho 30s. ones lie pointed out to the sergeant-major in ' chargo that he could hardly be expected to wear , a suit of that description. The sergeant-major said that "he could well take it or leave it." Mr. Allen said he was very sorry to hear such a complaint: He was satisfied that every man was all right at heart, though he had sometimes a rough exterior. Nevertheless ho was sorry if returned men were not treated by these officers in a polite, conciliatory, and proper manner. Indeed that was the attitude.tlie staff were expected to adopt towards every soldier, whoever ho might be. . 1 '. ' Concerning a Private's Pay. Mr. Elliott Davis (vice-president of the Returned Soldiers' Association), who was at the head of the deputation, quoted cases of a typical nature. Tho complaints in each case wero taken as evidence at "the Soldiers' Club, and Mr.. Davis handed to, the Minister a typewritten copy-'of the information given. One case was that of Private Samuel Fenton.' According, to this man's paybook, there was d\ie to him 381 days' pay, from January 16, 1915, to January 31,; 1916, and in addition 2s. per day' lodging allowance, since his return to New Zealand on, January 5 last, making a'total due of £97 17s. in pay, and to his/credit in tho bank he has received £72 6s. 3d., leaving a balance due to him of; £25 Os. 9d. Private Fcntou states' that' ; 'the Government are stopGs. for attention to. his teeth. His teeth wero, stopped in camp at Trentham by a. military dentist' in uniform. This and other cases Mr. Allen promised to investigate.

The Outfit Allowance. Mr. Davis drew the attention of tho Minister to the outfit allowance of 30s which was paid to discharged soldiers for the purchase of a suit of mufti. In lieu of this amount, the Department would supply the discharged soldier with a suit of that- value. Mr. Davis said he was of opinion that 1 the amount was totally inadequate. Indeed, it was hardly sufficient to buy the man <i pair of hoots, much less other clothing which miglit be At_ the last meeting of the Returned Soldiers' Association a motion had been carried— "That the Minister of Defence be respectfully urged to increase the clothing allowance to £10 per man." Mr; George Read said ho understood the. Australian Government paid discharged soldiers £10 for a kit. .i Mr. Allen: I am quite certain that the statement is absolutely incorrect. They do not give them anything like that sum. Indeed, my impression is that if they get as much they do' not get any more than is given in New Zealand. . Mr. Allen went on to say he was sorry to learn that tho club was "reeking with discontent." Ho invited ibe co-operation of all soldiers' clubs and associations, but. if any of these institutions and associations allowed political feeling to be engendered good results could not be looked fo;\ Arrangements had been in force for some time now' under; which each soldier arriving in-New 'Zealand was supplied with a complete outfit'of underwear, boots, and 'two - liniforms. It could be assumed that;;in- most cases men would 'cive suits of mufti behind when they went .'away, "so that'it was only in cases where •soldiers.rwerp: in exceptionally poor oirthat tho suit was really required.'-'-" Onrii was a democratic army, arid, .'distinctions could not bo made between .ono."class, and another. , .'DECK RAOM ON THE ROTORUA. : • Several ot-the returned soldiers whft arrived' back from England by tho llotorua complain bitterly about th.e re> ; stricted deck space . allowed them throughout the greater part of the voyage. There wore 210 soldiers accommodated in the third-class quarters, with, about 130 passengers. At first •the soldiers were allowed the samo liberty as ordinary third-class passengers, which included the use of the ' forward well-deck, but it is stated that they had not been long at sea before some of tho passengers complained about tho soldiers being allowed the right to that part oE the ship, and as tho result they were kept in.a very restricted space. This lasted until tliev wero within a week's steam of Auckland, when they, were once more allowed the liberty of that part of the deck which had been debarred them for the greater part of the voyage. As many of the men wero still convalescents they thought that such treatment was not such as might have been expected after the experiences they had passed through.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19160205.2.36

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2687, 5 February 1916, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
995

SOLDIERS' GRIEVANCES Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2687, 5 February 1916, Page 6

SOLDIERS' GRIEVANCES Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2687, 5 February 1916, Page 6

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