"UNCARED-FOR SOLDIERS."

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 20 November 1916, Page 4

"UNCARED-FOR SOLDIERS."

Sir,—ln reading your sub-leader of to-day (Saturday) it struck nfe that you had rather overstated the case. You gave us no facts except the letter of two nurses —which letter I also am aware of. The article in question did not do justice to what has been done for our boys by both the authorities of New Zealand and the good people of England. It is quite possible in the rush that sets in after a big battle that there is a little creaking of the hastily-organised machinery, and some few get temporarily neglected in "certain directions only. I say it is quite possible, and yet, as an ordinary man who reads the newspapers carefully I am not aware of a neglect that justifies your sub-leader. How many eases of neglect are you aware of among the many thousands in England to-day? Indeed your article smacked rather of the nature of exaggeration that one docs not usually get from a man, and so I suggest a lady wrote it for you. Then again, how can you possibly remedy it unless you hear of a specific case? Even then, by the time Neiv Zealand hears of it by letter the man is gone or his case is remedied. You cannot eliminate all errors in the human organisation, and ive should be ware of magnifying them, and rather give due credit for what lias been done. The best way to help is to send through authorised channels, and not be led into the Marie Corellian style of-liter-ature. Finally I feel it- very regrStable that such charge against the High Commissioner and his staff —and such .diatribes on class distinction at Home —should be brought forward at this time of stress and strain. It certainly is safe to say that there is no evidence to suppose that the capacity for "intelligent application" of any individual in these parts is of a.higher order than those of the powers that be ol the folk at Home. I am, etc.,, W. F. STENT. (It would be a distinct disadvantage to discuss the above letter any further than to say that no old lady gets access to editorial columns, they illuminate correspondence columns. This is merely mentioned to prevent the idea getting abroad that some lady is involved as our correspondent suggests.—Editor.)