NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 November 1917, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

THE OVERSEA SOLDIER. NEGLECTED IN LONDON. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct 30. The manner In which New Zeaand and other oversea troops are treated in London was criticised at the annua meeting of the Y.M.C.A. by Mr W. Jamieson, who recently returned to New Zeaand after having visited London as Y.M.C.A. commissioner. "Absolutely nothing is done for our men when they arrive said Mr Jamieson. "The English people do .not seem to realise that men arrive in London in a homeless state. They are not like' the English soldiers who are only a few hours from their homes. As for the military authorities they -have not even brains enough to provide a place in or near the stations where the men could leave their paraphernalia. Absolutely nothing is done for our boys, and naturally the result is disastrous. There is not enough care and attention when the men arrive in London. They are left to drift. There is nowhere for them to go except the "Ears, and when the bars are closed there are only worse places left. We are paying for it, and we shall pay for it with compound interest. The Canadians and the Australians need to be looked after just as much as our boys. Later Mr Jamieson entered a plea for fair treatment for the soldiers when the war is over. "Do not let us do what they are doing in England," he said. "There the lowest menial occupations are deemed fit for the returned soldiers Let' us throw open to them our universities and give them of our best. They are at the bottom of the ladder now; let us start them at the top." •„?>,> • .-