REPATRIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1918, Page 2

REPATRIATION.

nv-uENT PROPOSALS STRONGLY CRITICI.SIm/. A returned soldier who is in a posi(ion to speak with Authority had tho follow ing to say to a Times reporter with regard to tho Government's scheme of repatriating "Hitherto the returned soldiers have supported the Government in every possible way. because they realised the Government stood for the prosecution of the war to the end. But what ll.ey expected was that the Govermii:-. was to treat them justly and fairly, but what do we find? A few days before tl> closing of the session the Government is introducing- one of the most important h"ls ever introduced in any country, namely, the Repatriation Bill. Has the Government consulted the body which represents I lie returned soldiers? Are they aware that .here ' is seething discontent amongst the men? It is common talk lliat the Government lifts turned down the demands of the returned soldiers for retrospective treatment of married volunteers,

'•What is the use of appointing four Cabinet Ministers to constitute a. board which has only a paltry sum at its disposal towards repatriation? The Government did not hesitate, to give a. large sum'to'civil servants- The one consolation one gets is that the returned men will be able to work on roads and bridges. "It is quite on the cards that t-hp returned soldier.? will have to resort to means whereby they will obtain justice for the thousands who have returned and for the others who will return shortly. You aslc me what action we can take Well, the thing is •.simply. By our numbers we shall be able to exert such an influence at the ballot-box that no party will be able to exist without our support. It is not yet too late to take our adviee and appoint a responsible Minister for Repatriation, ill conjunction with « board of returned soldiers, business men and trades union representatives, to administer a scheme beneficial to the returned men."