LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 138, 6 March 1919, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

SETTLING SOLDIERS CLAIMS Sir,—The announcement that the Government had reconsidered the question of floating the projected loan in April, owing to the Treasury being in so prosperous a condition, will be received with gratification by those who wero expected to subscribe •as well as others not so comfortably situated, the superabundance of money not being generally expected owing to tho warnings uttered from time to time by our financial rulers. We are also informed that the various branches of the Bed Cross have been notified that it is unnecessary to raise further funds—additional proof of our overflowing exchequer. Well, in view of these facts, what explanation is offered for the deplorable delay in settling soldiers' and their dependants' pensions, etc., as well as the wires' and children's allowances. It will be remembered that the Government agreed last December to mako the allowances of volunteer 'soldiers' wives retrospective, but the matter appears to have ended there, although it was clearly stated that the necessary money was available when tho grant was agreed to. Who is respesible for this position of affairs? I was rather amused to read that when receiving a deputation from the Returned Soldiers' Association on this subject, the Minister of Defence was good enough to state that lie would have been prouder of the soldiers if they had not pressed this claim. I am not a soldier, but can readily understand _ that the measure of the Minister's pride in them could hardly be other than a matter of indifference when the rights of their wives and children were in question. Another poor advertisement for the Government is the deplorable cheeseparing attitude displayed on the question of the children's allowances. As the opinion of the community strongly supports this claim the powers that be might as v.ell recognise the fact now, Then, again, what can excuse the delay in getting the repatriation scheme into shape?. The boards have just recently been appointed, and of course nothing has been done. It has been suggested that the money, so urgently required in very many cases, is being held up in order to swell the country's credit balance at the end of the financial year. It will be interesting to wait and see.—l am, etc..

R. WENT WORTH. Wellington. March 1. 1019.