THE HOME SERVICE MEN .

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 56, 30 November 1918, Page 9

THE HOME SERVICE MEN .

Sir—Perhaps I am a bit late in replyIng to ''Gratefnl's" letter, but as 1 am out m thu buekblqaks I have only just l\ad tho opportunity of seeing it. He .asks that the men who have been retained on homo service be given a trip and "a chance to see some , of the great war zones." 1 would liko to know just how many of those poor fellows who lived in camp on home service, getting three square meals a day, good quarters, plenty of leave, and in most cases,better pay than ' they would have earned in private life, could not have got away had their desires been keen enough, to dp so. Possibly it was only natural for ;i n.c.o. recoiving from Ds. (id. to 12s. Gd. per diem on home , service to refrain rrbni pushing himself over the water, which would mean a reduction to ss. per day and the full rank of private— not to mention (lie dangers attendant thereto. I have a vivid recollection of the commotion caused 'among the home birds a few months ago when a number oiy us n.e.o.'s, who had seen service mostly from the start oil Gallipoli and France, were returned-to .New Zealand to take over "as we thought" in camp, and so assist some of those impatient' warriors to achieve tlieir ambition. I ' might mention incidentally that it was decided to send us back again with the different drafts, and to still retain tho

ssi'viues of those valuable men- I think "■Grateful" shows great consideration for (he poorchaps in his .endeavours to-got them a view of some of the old battlefields without any inconveniences in the shape of having iron foundries slung at them or their slumbers disturbed by midnight raids. Now, Sir, should there be' any trips going, what about the men who fought and were wounded on Galli-' pali—the Anzaos who Rave New Zealanders their reputation, and who were unfortunate to be returned home without having the chance io visit England, and who had looked forward to such a chance from the day they left New, Zealand? There are men who have toiled and sweated and gone sleepless night after night, who have risked .their liyes time and again, and who havo shed their blood and done so cheerfully, and yet .have had no chance to see Old England. If trips are- to be. had, vh/ not give them a look in?—l am, etc., . MAIN BODY.. ' Sir,—Will "Be Fair" be fair enough to give the home service men a chance. I. know of ninny it. home service man who, like "Be Fail's" sons, voluntered for a reinforcement, but was turned down for medical reasons. I also, know that hundred.? of these men have applied on several occasions to be sent to the front, but had no reply. Does "Bo Fair" know Hint there are" quite a few returned soldiers at present on home service? 1 suggest that "Be Pair" obtain some knowledge of the. homo service men before he writes about them. That would he fair!—l am, etc.,- RETURNED SOLDIER.,