"THE FORGOTTEN LEGION"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24411, 24 September 1940, Page 9

"THE FORGOTTEN LEGION"

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—ln reply to "Public Servant" I wish to state that I made no claim that all public servants were in receipt of £6 5s per week, as I am well aware that many of them are in receipt of amounts exceeding that sum. Further, it is neither a. fancy nor a fallacy when I repeat that those in receipt of the above figure are to be granted a bonus of 5s weekly. As for being wide of the mark when I claim that this increase was common knowledge long before the decision was made public. I endeavoured in my previous letter to show that the Government went to great pains to make it appear that it was weighing and considering the matter and thereby deceiving the public generally. Evidently it succeeded where "Public Servant" was concerned. My grievance is not with those who have been granted this bonus, for I have no doubt it is necessary in the majority of cases, but. with the Government that granted it, for it has given further proof, if such was necessary, that it can always be stampeded when there is a block vote in the offing, and that a case that has only justice to rely on is as good as defeated before it is presented. I agree that in some cases at least a bonus at the present time is necessary even where the recipient is in receipt of £6 5s a week, but that merely emphasises the injustice under which members of the Forgotten Legion have been suffering in their being asked to make £2 a week sufficient for the remainder of their miserable lives. As for the .Government fighting to the last ditch and forfeiting votes the fact, as our correspondent states, that it capitulated and paid this bonus gives a good indication of its fighting qualities. Has "Public Servant" never heard of a sham fight?—l am. etc.. Sept. 21. Forgotten.