HOME SERVICE MEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10278, 13 May 1919, Page 3

HOME SERVICE MEN

(To the Editor “N.Z. Times.”) Sir, —In your news columns of the 12th inst. you quoted an extract flam an open letter from “John Beanland” to General Richardson, published in "March. On,” as follows;—“The worst feature of this gtueat, (hoinoi service army is that it hardly knows the returned soldier. It hasn’t fought with him. It only knows the man viho stayed at home.” This is pretty severe on a large number of men on home service who went into camp perfectly prepared to “do their bit” and who were discharged after a period of training as medically unfit for active service. I refer particularly to men who volunteered and went to camp before the ballot or conscription scheme came into force. Surely, these men aro deserving of sbmo consideration and respect. Many of them,, have worked long hours, night after night, without pay, whilst the civilians working alongside of them received overtime pay. A very large proportion of homo service men have worked loyally, and whilst we admire, envy, and respect the returned soldier from the firing-line, it is up to them to also show respect for tho men who couldn’t got away but yet have performed very necessary and arduous duties which all helped to keep the good old flag flying. HOME SERVICE. May. 12th.