The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY, JUNE 7th, 1923.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY, JUNE 7th, 1923.

THE SOLDIER AND THE STATE. In a recent statement by the Minister of Pensions on the ease for the soldiers in respect to pensions, the following paragraph appears: “Although the claims of returned soldiers have been constantly voiced during recent years, there has been apparently no public recognition of the fact that there is another party to he considered, i. 0.., the State. It would ho much easier and much more popular to grant claims which are constantly being pressed. The purchase tf popularity by the too free granting of pensions would he extremely easy and pleasant.”

To our mind this trend of thought does not deal at nil fairly with the position. It has not at any stage been a matter lor currying favor, and enhancing popularity, but to deal equitably with the soldier. The official mind is hound up with a desire to keep within the four corners of the Acts, and the replies along those lines are stereotyped. But there is altogether another side of the question, and the State’s side should be that of tho soldier. Tf the Stale is not going to care for the soldier and maintain his rights, who is to do so? The duty

then devolves on soldier organisations, but these do not represent always tho full strength of the ex-soldier. Fortunately many of the men who returned from active service, do riot need help or assistance from any quarter, least of all the State, and that class is perhaps indifferent to the plight of many of their former comrades whose circumstances necessitate them looking to the State. There are those w hose war service was so exacting that their health was undermined, and perhaps it is only after a return to civilian life that their condition of health grew alarming, or prevented them earning a reasonable livelihood. With such it is often, far too often, n matter of difficulty to secure pension concessions. This is so, particularly with men residing in districts remote from headquarters. Their cases do not secure the intimate review they should have. Headquarters are content to review the case solely in the light of the military record of the soldier and it is conceivable that this history may not have any note of any illness which only developed subsequent to his return. It is very hard for a soldier in such circumstances to secure a pension. There is too groat a disposition to judge eases in mass within tho provisions of the law, instead of dealing equitably with individual cases on their merits. The law should ho so framed to permit of this elasticity, for it is the individual case which brings tho mutter forward. Tile position could be helped by genuine sympathy being forthcoming from official quarters. Very often there is a prejudice in that quarter to login with, and the men as a whole suffer. The officials should understand why they occupy their posts —to do a fair tiling by the soldiers. That is the desire, as it was the promise made on behalf of public opinion when the men went forth to serve. Nothing was going to be too good for the men who served, that was, the burden of the speeches at every send off. The men were admired and praised, and the country now, for its own honor, cannot afford to go hack on its plighted word. It is not sufficient for the Government to plume itself that it lias treated the soldier well. In some respects the soldier was treated over well, but our plea now is for the ex-soldier broken in health whose earning power is diminished, and who is in much reduced circumstances in health and pocket because of his war service. AVhat is needed, is the introduction of more humanity into the administration of the law. The State’s part is to keep cu playing the game, not- to seek to shirk responsibility as if its task were finished. The State has got to carry on equitably and fairly if the Government policy of a square deal is to have

full play with the ex-soldier. That is all that is desired.