CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1918, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE.

ENJiMV SUBJECTS IN BUSINESS To the Edifoiv' ' . Sir,—This question hag, often been discussed, What shall be done - to . provide ■ land, business, etc, for returned soldiers? Provision should be made and. before it is too late. In a good/many , cases we hear of good land being sold not to our own race but to the foe, which the farmer has sold out to fight against. At present I am on a visit prior to going into camp. Formerly I had a business which I sold and volunteered but was turned doWsi. Having been called recently in the ballot I gladly deem it my duty as a Briton to go and do mj. share, but what about the New Zealand and British who are in business which they will have to sacrifice when called up? Many would gladly go if they colild feel l assured their dependents could carry ■on the business. There "afS"'two tritdei • ;T----wish to point out'which'-are gradually going over to the FOR. namely, fish; and fruit shops. Take for instance; NeW Plymouth. There are-over 20 Aus't'nttns; | who run the fish shops against "one wbite ; man. who, I learn; has teen'called in the ballot. Now when lie goes''into camp, the Austrians will Ti'ave the lot. Now, what chance has the white man against these who should be turned oi]t instead encouraged? Why are they not interned, and their business turned over to the returned soldiers.? The second trade, fruit, which has been in the hands of a good many white people, is slowly dwindling away, for they are being called up and the coloured race opetis another shop when there is one empty, and so lessening the chance of the white man to sell his business at a fair figure to leave for his dependents. The same applies to Stratford. The fruit business there is run by a' few . white men, and the rest are coloured,' and from all accounts another Alien is opening shortly, because they can see Mat all the white men will have to go, and they reap the benefit which the soldier has left. I should like to know, Mr Editor, why these coloured races are' nbt conscripted to do something for the war. If that is not safe to do so, make them sell their business and put them on the island where they are having a far better time under our care than our captive boys are having in their land.—l am, etc., RECRUIT.