WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR US?

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 101, 29 April 1916, Page 3

WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR US?

A FEW STRAIGHT QUESTIONS FROM THE TRENCHES. A SOLDIER SPEAKS—IN" HIS OWN WAY. HE SPEAKS TO YOU—WHO WILL ANSWER? Writing from Egypt under date February 23th, a young New Zealander, speaking pertinently from the front anent the soldiers' post-war claims, thus frankly expresses his views in a letter to close friend in Hastings: "This afternoon during a spare hour I took pencil and paper and drew me a picture of a typical two-roomed whare. Then. I elaborated Mt until it was transformed into a snug little farm, homestead —garden and all complete, even to the water-tubs and plantation. So you can easily guess where my heart was, and to-night, as I watched the New Zealand troops returning from a route march, my thoughts took more distinct shape. "Rank after rank they passed, with the long, swinging, tireless stride of the colonial, and the thought came to me, 'What is New Zealand doing, in view of the return of these, her sons?' They have broken off their lives to come where they are wanted, not counting the ccst, and, for the most of them, the time can ill be spared. A fellow at any age between 20 and 30 is beginning to think of planning

out his life and trying to estimate how long it will take him to make a start as his own boss, or to build his own home. Each has his own dreams and ideals. When the lads return they will want to take up the thread of their lives again, as near as possible to where they left it, and to work their way towards that home of their own, which is their lodestar. "We, who are here are doing a lot for you at home. What are you going to do for us? Presents of socks and cakes and cigarettes are very acceptable—when we get them—but there are things we hope for, and conjure visiens cf, far more important than these gifts. The nation will require the repair cf all this terrible wastage and the way to accomplish this is first, to make it possible for men, when they take up civil life again, to marry and rear their children with some prospect of comfort and well-being. "You may think me premature in talking so far ahead of events. 'Win the struggle,' says the man in thestreet, 'and we will give you banquets ' and receptions when you return.' 'Keep your banquets and speeches,' says the grimy,, tight-lipped lad behind the sand bags, 'we want some-

thing different' "Mr. Massey's' Government is setting apart, so the papers tell us, large tracts of land for allotment to discharged soldiers. Is he? Where? Where the roads don't reach and where a man can't ask his girl to come and live? And the other man, what are you going to do for him? For this man, who knows no life but that of the towns, the bank clerk, the office man, the artificers of the workshops—what are you going to do for them? Have you got town sections to offer them to build their homes on, or are they to go back to their old boarding-house life? There are you girls, who promised to Avait for us. When w e see you again, are Ave to ask you to Avait still longer? Is the boy Avho keeps his AA r idoAved mother to spend his savings Avhile he finds a job? And the aged parents, Avho depend upon their sons' earnings for a heme —Avhat of them? They gave their sons cheerfully to their country's service.

Wake up, NeAV Zealand! Now is the time to show a lead to the Avorld. It Avill be too late Avhen the bonnie

brown lads begin to pour into your toAvns again and ask for Avork. You are learning hoav to do Avithout us; you will have to learn something else in the future —'Hoav to do with us.' There are great brains and fine clever minds in the land Ave all love and hope to return to some day. Give those brains a chance to tackle this problem, in a gold, generous manner, worthy of cur best traditons so that, Avhen the rifle is laid aside, New Zea-

land can Avelcome her men and say to them with a clear conscience, 'Glad to have you back, boys; there's a place ready for ycu all.' "In tc-night's Gazette, Reuters says that Rider Haggard is leaving England to meet Australian politcians for the purpose of discussing plans for providing land for settlement, to meet the expected rush of emigrants after the Avar. That is quite alright, in its way, but it is only fair to colonials that they should have every consideration first.

"I can see a lot of heartburnings over this question, and haA r e written you my thoughts just as they came. I don't pretend to be a politician—indeed y° u knoAv I detest party politcs —but this matter touches us all very nearly and I know you are Avatching events very closely. "And hoav, my dear, at the bottom

oi ! all our hearts is the secret hope, almost laughed at, yet still fondly indulged in that this year may see militarism lying under our feet, crushed and broken like the fragments of some hideous heathen idol that has been flung from its blood-stained pedestal, and that next March will see you and I, aud all the parted ones, united once again."