THE TREATMENT OF NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 202, 21 May 1919, Page 8

THE TREATMENT OF NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS

Sir,—The Minister of Defence has made eo many assertions that ho is treating New Zealand soldiers better than any other country is, and I think my caso should be made public As only. 4!50 was allotted for dental outfit, I was ordered to provide equipment at my own expense, and spent some 4:120 on joining the Main Body, N.Z.E.F. I have managed to recover J855, and the Defence Department admits my claim to further compensation, but would not grant it, as "others might make similar claims." I put my caso before tho Minister of Defence, who refused to considor it,, because he said I had accepted a full settlement. That is untrue, as I did not even give a receipt for tho last amount paid me. While on activo service my dental plant in Wellington was destroyed by fire, and/ incidentally, my practice ruined. I lost some hundreds of pounds, and had to commence business all over again. In contrast to his treatment of me the Minister passed a special vote lost sessiou to reimburse Lady Godley for a con-' valoscont home sho established in Egypt. For business reasons I got leave to .re' turn to New Zealand via America, and asked the Minister to grant something towards my passage, also my wifes, but lie refused to grant retrospect'vo assistance. To further add to my troubles niv brother, as a lung case, has, on discharge, been granted a pension of il per week, and I have to assist him financially. I bavo-evidence that a similar" case'was granted £i 10s.. per week by the Canadian Government. The Canad.an soldier on discharge' also gets three months' pay. The American dentists who did not go on service have established a fund of ,£IO,OOO to assist such cases as mine, but I have received neither sympathy nor offers of assistance in New Zealand. I have little cause to rejoice at having voluntarily placed mv services at the disposal of the Minister of Defence in 1914, and those of us who sacrificed health or limbs get scant consideration from the same gentleman—l am, etc., J. S. FAIRCniLD. Woodward Street, May 20, 1919.