The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY MARCH 15, 1916. THE SOLDIERS' CLUB QUESTION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 64, 15 March 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

WEDNESDAY MARCH 15, 1916. THE SOLDIERS' CLUB QUESTION.

(With which is incorporated The Tai tape Post and Waimarino News.)

Some very interesting discussions took place on Monday night at the meeting of the Taihape Patriotic Committee, the most important, we think, being that in connection with returned and returning soldiers. The meeting gave the impression that they were in doubt about the practicability of forming a soldiers' club; that Taihape was on the dividing line between those towns who could and those who couldn't; that Taihape was scarcely large, wealthy and populous enough, and without the prospect of having sufficient returned soldiers to .render such a club a practical success. Everyone must sympathise with this, view, whether it really was the feeling of the meeting or not, but'Captain Donald Simson's words grate on the conscience and will not be shaken off. He says that returned soldiers are entitled to the best possible treatment which the country was prepared to give. The many difficulties arising out of these soldiers taking part in the war, the life they had led, j the effect on temperament and ideas, • required not only sympathetic reference, but actual help from the public to enable their gradual absorption, and their return to normal conditions. There was a very grave danger in allowing a condition of drift and apa- ; thy to obtain. It seems that we first j have to realise that our men have, of necessity, as soldiers, been weaned from home life and conditions to follow something entirely different, and that they 'are abrupt 1 y being thrust back into old ruts without any preparation, the contrary of that given when abandoning them. They have, Captain Donald Simeon thinks, to be weaned and reassimilated, 'and he also thinks the formation of soldiers clubs, with the essential information bureaus, is the first and best effort.towards attaining what he urges. Taking his words as axiomatic, as truth, we cannot deny, every community seems bound by all humane obligations to do something in the direction he indicates. Perhaps, the decision to hold a public meeting was the best course to follow under the circumstances. Captain Simson 'is to be advised, but whether he attends or not, an effort should be made to get from him what irreducible minimum he considers would constitute a useful organisation. It seems that to form a club of the kind ordinarily understood by the term is quite out of the question and undesirable, and we do not think such a club was ever suggested by anyone. A clubroom that would be. reading-room, writingroom and, perhaps, smoke-room all in one, with a records room and office in another, may be all that is necessary in a place like Taihape. A place ! where soldiers could meet to confer and discuss their interests and put the result into writing. To allow men

to roam the streets discussing their grievances would be a grave error, and one that should be obviated at any cost, as it must interfere with recruiting 'and produce uncertain feelings in the minds of relatives of those ! who do en'ist. A committee might be set up to ascertain the details of what are deemed minimum requirements in an effective Soldiers' Club, and its initial cost and upkeep. With such reliable information the public would acquire an intelligent grasp of the question, and be in a positon to say whether they were prepared to find the money. This country's obligations in this connection are real, and the safest way to avoid future trouble is to face them now.