SOLDIERS' GRIEVANCES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 51, 25 November 1918, Page 4

SOLDIERS' GRIEVANCES

A MINISTERIAL DENIAL. Referring to statements published in STiiE Dominion on Saturday regarding soldiers,' irievanccs at Eeatlierslon Camp, the Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen) stated on Saturday that it was incorrect to say that the sergeant representing the men had "h somewhat .stormy interview" with the Minister and tho Chief of the General Stall , on Thursday last.

"The sergeant did not interview me at all at Featherston," said Sir James Allen. "Ho took the proper course, through his commanding officer and tho C.G.S. to the AdjutanUGeneral, to discuss certain legal questions and 'grievances, and all were settled by the Adju-tant-General except one, and on that the Adjutant-General authorised him to see me, and he came to see me. That was on tho question of sick leave for men, who have been in hospital. "It had been decided that we would hold men in camp until they were well enough to resume their civil occupation. This was done in the interests of the 'men themselves, because we believed that if we kept them under conditions of camp lifo we could sooner restore them to complete health again than if they were allowed to wander off to their homes. The men reprewnted that many of them were married, and were anxious abont their wives and families. I (herefore agreed that they should lie allowed to go on sick leave, on condition that they had their eight days , 'convalescence, and that the P.M.O. or a medical board decided that it was safe for them to go away, notwithstanding that they were not quite restored to health. Under tlieso conditions they will'get H days' sick leave pay." "The representations were made in en*tire order," Sir James Allen added, "and, instead of the sergeant being noisy, he was quite the contrary.