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HOME SERVICE MEN

Sir,—There was published in tho last issue of tho official organ of the Returned" Soldiers' : Association, "Quick March," nn article which wns described as an open letter to Brigadier-General G. S. RiciiardEon C.8., C.U.G., 0.8. E., m which the Defence Department" generally' and somo appointments (named) were treated with veiled contempt, so while this lettei 1 n;ay bo considered to be/ more or less, a reply ,to the remarks make, it is equally an open letter to the Minister of Defeuco,. to the politicians of the Dominion, awl to thf; public genorally. In the article mentioned is set put in, detail somo of the/"fficers holding responsible positions in the Defence Department who havo not seen overseas service in the present war (that the information at the evident disposal-of the ■writer was 'incorrect does not in any •RTiy eeem'to worry him), and the j'vriter ipoints out (and.his statement is irrefutable) that ove.r-age soldiers, soldiers with large families, soldiers with defects and deformities embarked for active service with tho Main B'ody and with tho early reinforcements, his object being to provo that there was no reason whatever for the retention in New. ■ Zealand of cny one of the objects of his remarks, and that any man if he had tried could havo got away. " . '

His article also was a demand that bny person in the service of ,lhd Defence P_epartmont who had not seen active service should bo immediately replaced by one who had. This burning question was also piit to General Richardson at the Returned Soldiers' Association mooting held Inst week, and this'officer's reply clearly indicated his views on the question, i.e., the homo service man'niust 'go (vide Press). ' . . , :

i ' It isi this point that I would like, those ' interested to consider 1 from the point of equity. . Tho man who embarked has done all that was ;iskod of him—and -luore. But it'must be remembered that the returned soldier is not a recent innovation; ho has been in New""Zealand fortb,e past three years, but it is only quite recently that >te has decided definitely to again return to harness, and then only whon the pay is increased. Sad the returned soldier, instead of (akMg his discharge (and his pension), devidod at the time to fill the'vacancies offering on , home service employment, tad present unpleasant position would not iiave arisen. . It is (Victorious fact'that when the work'in the camps was in full .swing the shortage of men for home ser- . vice duties was remarkable, and that the returned soldiers' clubs throughout New Zealand were notified that returned soldiers would have preference, in filling the l?°* u "* 3 - al) d it is also a notorious fact tiat tho returned soldier did not offer. Thei home service man has no special plea for consideration; he merely wants Hue side of the question understood. In referring to home service men I want it clearly understood that those to whom the term applies, according to my dehnition, are thoso who volunteered for tservice. were'found to be unfit, and who decided then—not later—to take up whatever duty was allotted them and thoso who, having been passed into camp "fit" as-volunteers, became unfit in camp, aud who, instead of availing themselves of tho opportunity to return to civil'life with a "clear conscience," volunteered to bo retained on duty wherever required. ! The man who came into cainn only because of-the operations of the* Military ' Jbervice Act, whether "fit" or "unfit," and'the man, who, having a large family (and because of ■ this'being beyond the ramifications of the Military' Service Act) offered his. services to the' Department, I ;am not concerned—although" classed— with. At the same time it must be remembered that Cabinet decided that no man with more than three children un- ■ tier the ages of 16 years was to be'allowed to leave New Zealand. (Probably this is not generally known). ' ■ The genuine home service man voluntarily accepted service, knowing that he, if married, would not-receive the same allowances as the man who went away or was going; he, in a great many in-stances,--in common with the 'active :eer-' vice soldier, made personal business sacrifices merely with the idea to "help,' , ho did not know, exactly how-far he could help' or in ''whafi'directipV his '"services wouldbe utilised. It .is Sue r that in. some, instances he rose to. what have been referred to as "cushy jobs," but in neajlj every instance' it was the,result oi.outstanding ability that occasioned this, and if civilian and military circumstances were compared, it would ..be. seen that the civilian pursuit had ■a. vory. marked effect on the military career; and curiously enough, this also applies to the men who went away. The ■ Lome service men are not eligible 'for tho benefits under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act,, or the Repatriation Act; yet any man who happened to be in a camp of military on November 12, 1918 (armistice day) passed "fit" for active service' (contingently or otherwise) may . participate, despite the fact that in nearly every instance he waa in camp only because.of the Military Service Act, and in some cases, came in under sections-33, 34, and 35 of the Act. , . '■ ■' ' : .

One can imagine the wondermfcnt of the- genuine volunteer home service i"art when he is told that the shirker who did not register with tho Government Statistician, and who was finally run to earth by the civil police, and in a civil Court was given "one month's hr/rd" for failing to comply with'the law,-end on his "release" from gaol was handed over to the'military authorities, who escorted him to camp; and who, on arriving thero. decided the aforesaid "month" was a sufficient cure, but who, 'by . a stroke of luck, did not embark because of the-signing of 'tho armistice, .is a better man than he is and worthy ofmore consideration '■..:' '

And now we are told' that- wo cannot ■ get'the .King's Silver War Badge, because, although unfit for active service, we aro still rapjtble of rendering somo service, whereas our confrere who came on service ,ou exactly! the same terms as ivo did, but who, b,v an accident of birth—he was born before we were—is "boarded" out because he has become over military age, is eligible to apply for the coveted embi,em. ' And further, we are told tbat because the returned man- is now desirous of employment we must vacate our positions even though the positions have ■beta hald for a considerable, time, and . tho training we received in 'the early days is enabling us to wind up.the Departments to which.we are.attached in an efficient manner. Yet in all this there is ono littl cray. of sunshine, the first and only peep accorded : ns. MajorGeneral Sir, A. H. Russell, K.C.8., K.C.M.G., at'the. reception given him iu Christchurch by the Garrison, Officers' Club, spoke in congratulatory terms of tlio worK of the men who stayed behind.

And I join .with osiers who extol Hie. services of the man who went away, hut ask for thought for the mini γ-ho would have gono but. could not, 'and that in every' enso ho receive the snino treatment as tho' who could have gone but did not. :

I do not ask you 19 pardon the liberty I have taken in'taking- up'so much of your.. valuable apace. I do not intend to solicit the help of tho iu re able pen, nnd'also do not intend to consider ivyself a . NECESSARY MIL.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19190523.2.36.1

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 204, 23 May 1919, Page 7

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,234

HOME SERVICE MEN Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 204, 23 May 1919, Page 7

HOME SERVICE MEN Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 204, 23 May 1919, Page 7

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