ACTING-PREMIER REPLIES TO CRITICS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3090, 22 May 1917, Page 4

ACTING-PREMIER REPLIES TO CRITICS

DUNEDIN PATRIOTIC SOCIETY'S ALLEGATIONS. By Telegraph—Press . Association. .Dunedin, May 21. Sir James Allen has forwarded a letter to the Mayor in regard to complaints voiced at the last meeting of the Patriotic Association of the treatment ofi soldiers. The Minister emphatically de- ' nies that the "Government looks for" every possible loophole to avoid doing •what they advertised they ■were willingto do." With regard to what vras said of the inadequacy of the mufti allowance, Sir James Allen 6aid that a soldier on discharge, in addition to thirty shillings mufti allowance, is entitled to have items of clothing. With regard to'the statement that men who had broken down in training in camp were turned out and told to find their own way, he asks to be given specific instance. 'The difficulty the Government had to face was to prevent the State being loaded with charges which were not justifiable on account of going into camp and not disclosing their weaknesses. A soldier who broke down ■ in oamp was placed on the same footing, as far as war pensions were,concerned, as a soldier at the front. The 1 Mayor had stated that many men hadj returned to find their positions filled, and; were unable to earn a livelihood. He would be glad to receive instances. The Mayor had also stated that the delay-In. ■jiving men pay due was a scandal. Jn. _. this matter Sir James Allen also asked to be snpplied with specific instaneoE. ■ • Tho Mayor will reply, giving specific instances" brought under liis notice.