A SOLDIER'S PROTEST - Dec 28, 1918

    "The war has produced many anomalies, but none so remarkable as that at the end munition workers

who have given up nothing but gained much, should claim public sympathy with their lot.  Personally,

I know of numerous cases of men getting into munition factories to dodge military service and earning

more money than they ever hoped to see.  I have neighbours who escaped the Army this way, and who

have positively rioted in their newfound prosperity.  They have spent lavishly, saving nothing for a rainy

day, and now expect the public - among whom are ex-soldiers disabled while protecting them - to be taxed

to maintain them.  These people never lifted hand or voice to get soldiers' dependants an extra copper.

They never hesitated to exploit the country's need in order to exact more wages.  They periodically held

a pistol at the nation's heads while we were grappling with our deadliest foe.  They cared nothing that

their action was forcing up the cost of living against soldiers' dependants, old age pensioners and the class

of people whose income could not increase.  The principle of equality of sacrifice left them cold.  Yet now

they expect to be kept by the State.  Self every time!

Contrast their treatment with the treatment accorded to disabled soldiers, who, on going to the front of

a Pensions Board have to get papers signed by their employees before they can obtain even a small amount

they lose through leaving work for a few hours.

The truth is, the Government have always dealt with organised Labour by humouring it, but having soldiers

in their power, have treated them and their dependants and unorganised workers, with callous indifference.

I have every sympathy with Labour and vote for Labour, but not the sort of Labour that leaves the soldier

in the lurch and allows his dependants to starve.

Since joining the Army I have had to draw largely on my own savings.  It will be hard on returning to

civil life to be taxed to support people who gave nothing and saved nothing while I fought to keep them

in security and prosperity."

                                                    A TOMMY