REPATRIATION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 245, 26 January 1917, Page 4 (Supplement)

REPATRIATION.

< 1 no very interesting description oi the manner in which Christmas Day was spent by tlio allied armies in France, supplied by .Mr Bean, tho official cor-ic.-pondent with tlio Australian forces, ttus supplemented by an important suggestion relative to tlio future welfare of the men who are doing the L I (.111 suggest to the prevision of one Christinas gift for their countrymen rather than another gilt, one which can he urged with all earnestness, it would he the prov'-ion, before tho war ends, oi' ;i complete and established system for helping to lead useful, happy lives, those whom the war have left maimed, crippled, and lilmd. Woiulei ful work is being done i i England and (lermnny in this way. This has, I believe, be 11 the study of M Kisher, the 1' gli Commissioner, and Australi 1 could not do wrong in making her provision even more complete. Two of the greatest problems which will confront Australia when the war < pds will I <\ firstly, ensuring that tho enormous war savings of the soldiers eve spent, as far as possible, in producing a valuable industry which will help Australia to recuperate: and, secondly. making incapacitated soldiers into useful citizens. It !.» urgent that the Aust'a'ians r-liould realise that both theso system, H must lie in going order before tie war vnds, or harm will bo incurred which can never be repaired. There w.i evidently present to Mr ]Ji an'?, mind the fear l"-t tho relationship of the non-combatant population to their defenders will bo tlio same after this war as : t has been after previous wars. Tt. has become a tradition teat UlO soldier should be loaded with gift l whi!e he is fighting, glorified immediately after bis return, and then | neglected. The efforts that have been ' 11::• 1 1 1 ■ by voluntary workers for the com-1 fort and health of the soldier engaged 1 in this war have been unprecedented;! I i.t. there evidently remains a doiut | v. 1 ether, when the excitement and I strain of the war is over, the public will in t weary in its benevolence, or feel 1111ei.u.il to tho greater demands that will be undo open its purse. We Iklii'Vo v.o can safely say on behalf of NVw Zealand, as tli • "Sydney Morning If-iaid" says for Australia, that the so'diers may rest assured that i n this m tier the resolution of the publi•• has Ic.n taken, an] can by no be all !'•• 11. They are quite determin. .1

,:at soldiers who return and are able u resume their former occupations shall uivo a choice between doing so and roina on the land: and that those solders who ui'o maimed in mind or body ball bo assured of the best medical atcrtion not only before, but after their I'Fcharge, and shall afterwards be rained for the calling best suited to .b.eir abilities. Just now our own Uorcinment is considering the problem of lational service in ito broadest sense, md wo may hope for the evolution n ,hr near future of some comprehensive scheme bn«cd on tlio principle of quality of sacrifice. Every man who ires to the war to some extent impairs r.u prospects of advancement. Every nan who stays at homo should, therefore, bo prepared to give not of his superfluities but of his capital, in order L> diminish tho extent of their sacrifice. Self-interest, moreover, will coincide with a senso of obligation. In the years to como every country will need to make the best uso of all its inhabitants. If wc are to carry our burden of unproductive debt fully we must se3 that the men who aro willing and fit to go on tlio land shall l>e encouraged to do so. It is equally in our interest to 600 that men who have been rendered unfit for their previous calling shall bo trained for another suited to j their faculties. Every one of the l>el- j lijreront nations has realised already c that it cannot allow soldiers who have been wounded in its service to remain J only as pensioners. The least cogent \ reason is that they would become a bur- 1 den to '-he State instead of an addi- j ticnal source of wealth. The decisive j argument is, that a man should be j sa\ed from tho misery and loss of self- i respect which follows from constant de- 1 pendenco on others. Though men soon 1 loso tho inclination to work, idleness , never makes them happy. It is the lir>t duty of tho community, therefore, ( to'show wounded men that they can work; to show it to them bv exampie as well as by precept, and then to anti- ( cipato tho demoralising kindnesses of their friends by putting tho work befere them. What Mr Bean urges is tlnfc a schema should ')e decided upon and machinery put in motion immediately so that when peace comes it will noc hud the Government without means of translating tho prevailing goodwill irto acts. At present wo are in possession of certain statements of intention but of no defined scheme. In the opinion of tho Primj Minister of the Commonwealth, tho solution of the pioblem is to be found in the creation of an organisation in which would by , vested both tho authority and tho means to deal with the returned soldier so that his welfare might be eonserved and his interests protected. The essential feature of this organisation must bo its ability to deal with every Cfse that came beforo it. Where monetary assistance was required this organisation u ist advance it. Where j o soldier desired to settle on tho land, this organisation must, through one «f its special agencies, be able to do what 1 was required, and givo advances of j . rncney as was necessary for the purpose. Similarly, where a soldier «le- j si-ed to go into business, or sought employment, the organisation must | l:i!p him in these directions. Where! a soldier though he had been treated j unwisely in regard to a pension, or n j any other way, such as organisation i would havo to deal with that matter, j Ir. short, what Mr Hughes has in mind | is a special organisation or department | 'with comprehensive powers to deal ; with all that concerns the returned ' soldier, tho necessary funds being of course, provided by tho State. Some s.ich scheme will have to be forinulate! in New Zealand, and the soone:' b is dono tho better it will bo for all ' coneerw <l.