"DUNNING THE SOLDIERS"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 205, 18 May 1918, Page 7

"DUNNING THE SOLDIERS"

• . ■ DEFENCE. DEPARTMENT USES- ; ; I'OLICB. " - The Defence Department continues to . n£e the civil police for the collection of money alleged to he due to it by soldiers. The protests-that have been made in the . past seem to have been of no avail, . .■ A recent ease in Wellington was that of a Gallipoli veteran, long ago discharged, who is stated- by the Defenco authorities to have been overpaid, a small sum' while lie was a .member of the. iiorces. The! ex-soldier, disputes'." the. claim, and in correspondence with the Department has, stated his view of the ■position. .. ,0n a recent .'afternoon a. uniformed polinoman called at his'"house, and explained that ho had come for themoney. The policeman, it may be mentioned, made Ms. request with as little .offence as .possible, and (lid not press the point when told that the money was . not going, to bo paid.. .The grievance of the. returned soldiers does not consist of the. attempt to recover money. ,It is admitted that" in some cases the money may'be due, sincS the . field, paymasters -,are- not. infallible. But the returned'men object to the 'use of tlie police for the collection of what are. dimply civil debts, if they' are debts at all. .... * • ■ •" ■ 1