SOLDIERS' GRATUITIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 301, 16 September 1919, Page 4

SOLDIERS' GRATUITIES

"EXPRESSION OF REGRET." - Tho following telegram from Dr. Ernest Boxer, president New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, Hastings, has been forwarded to the Eight Hon. the Prime Minister: ' "Please accept my personal and official regret <it attitude and action taken by deputation of Wellington returned soldiers this week. Such was in completo antagonism to spirit and decision of Christchureh conference in June. The executive do not consider gratuities in any sense a demand but a gift from tho country, and therefore matter is entirely in the'hands of and with the good wishes of your Government. I would be obliged if you would kindly convey this expression of regret to the members of your Oabinot."

WELLINGTON DEMONSTRATION CONDEMNED. The special correspondent of a Duncdin paper, writing from Christchureh on September 11, stated; Tho local heads of the Returned Soldiers' Association do not sympathise with the crowd of Wellington soldiers who demonstrated so noisily on Wednesday in support of their demand that the war gratuity should be calculated on a basis of JilM.for each man with two years' service "Tho matter of gratuities is of peculiar interest to returned soldiers generally, inasmuch as there is no doubt that such payment on a reasonable scale is a fair'and just reward," said Mr. M'Caßuni, president of the local Returned Soldiers' Association; "but to demand payment of a gratuity is quite another question. ' Whilst entirely disagreeing with the irresponsible action of a number of returned isoldiers in Wellington, in so far forgetting themselves as to possibly alienate sympathy which they would haye gained otherwise, I do not exonerate tho Government from blame for tho position that has now arisen. A definite scheme in connection with gratuities should havo boon decided upon by tho Government before any official announcement was made. As it is, the soldiers' gratuity barometer has beon alternately rising and faking for' some time past, and this has caused 11 considerable amount of discontent. . (Mr. M'Callum added that Ms opinion* on tho subject were shared by_ the members of the Dominion Executive of tho i\ew Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association. He was not prepared to suggest any amount which should be paid, as he held that the soldiers had no right to demand any particular amount, _ Mr. Leadlev, secretary of the Chns.tchuieh Association, pointed out that from tho newspaper reports it appeared that none of rii« nfficHs of '■■ ••..',..>,! Relurncd Soldiers' Association took part in the denotation, although tho head■quarters of the association aro in Wellington. Tho only returned man in an official capacity who had taken part was Mr. Aldrieh, secretary of the Wellington Association, and he merely introduced the deputation. From this it appeared that the official attitude of the New Zealand Association had not changed.sinco tho lastconfercnce._ It was agreed that the association should nuke no claims on the Government in 1 respect of the gratuity, it being held that tho gratuity was a gift which the Government had the right to give or withhold, as it thought fit.