CAMOUFLAGE.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 3, 1 April 1920, Page 8

CAMOUFLAGE.

A gentle art; brought into prominence during the "Great War" 19141919. It has of course always been with us but under another name. The war has taught its wider application and this wider sphere has worked its way into our national life to such an extent that it is difficult to distinguish between "skim milk masquerading as cream" and the real thing. As far as our political life is concerned it is now the home of refuge for Cabinet Ministers. We frequently hear from Ministers what is being done for the Returned Man. The operations of the "Discharged Soldier's Settlement Act,'! and other legislative ena-ctments dealing with him are frequently displayed in ministerial summaries. The most successful entry of the "gentle art ' into a Government Department, is in the ca.se of the Defence Department, who seem anxious to dispense with the Returned Soldier as quickly as possible. It would almost seem that a balance sheet stands pre-eminent to the sane and legitimate demands of humanity. The recent j action of the Defence Department to discharge all men (whether fit or unfit) from the N.Z.E.F. seems all very well on the face of it, but in realitv, it is the "gentle art" applied in a more suttle manner. After March 31st of this year the N.Z.E.F. shall cease to exist and the pay of soldiers undergoing treatment in hospitals etc. will also stop. They are stiil unable to commence work. In this respect the Defence Department, reattest them for treatment and hand them over to the Pension Department where a maximum pension of £2 per week is provided for. As far as actual pay is concerned the difference is not so great but as set out here to alearly isndioate the position. The case taken being that of a private : — — Single Man Discharged. — Military pay 63s weekly. Full pension 40s weekly. Full snpplementary 20s, 60s weekly. — Married Man with Child. — Full pension 40s weekly. Wife 20s weekly. Supplementary 20s, 90s 6d weekly. Child 10s 6d weekly. Military pay 63s weekly. ATlowanee wife 21s weekly. Child 10s 6d, 94s 6d weekly. Although the difference in pay is small, it is a loss to the soldiers. But this argument presupposes the man's pension, supplementary, and wife's pension to be stable things. As a matter oi fact they are the direct opposite. The man is decidedly lucky if he gets the full pension of £2 per week and born under a lucky star if he gets the supplementary and his wife also gets consideration. The pay was something sure, the pension is an indefinite quantity. Married men in particular will have to supplement it by taking up some kind of employment. This is another diffieulty, because upon re-ex-amination the man has to state the amount he has earned. The Department tell us that it does not influence the pension But why? is it asked. It's one of the most transparent pieces of camoufl age ever perpetrated upon men whose destiny they can to some extent influence. Even allowing the full pension. What is it? in these days, for a man with a wife and family. Nothing more than a continued struggle for existence in whicli a decent standard of comfort is unattainable. The Invercargill Association has fought the matter, but of no avail. The whole business is simply camouflage and a sacrifice of human itarian principles.