RETURNED MEN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 212, 20 June 1933, Page 6

RETURNED MEN

THE 17TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

ADDRESS BY MR COBBE.

SAFEGUARDING OF WELFARE

(Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day

The 17th annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association was opened to-day. The delegates were welcomed to the city by the Mayor (Mr Hislop). • The Dominion president (Sir Andrew Russeli) occupied the chair. The Acting-Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) attended the opening session as the representative of the Dargaville Association. The Minister of Defence and Pensions (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe) was also present. He said ho was not a returned soldier, but was present; at the suggestion of Mr Coates because of his direct interest in the affairs of the Association. He referred to the work of disabled men. During his visit to the south he had formed the opinion that not enough was being done to display the goods made by disabled men, and fis a result of representations to a leading Christchurch retailer arrangements had been made to display the goods to the best possible advantage. He felt that similar arrangements should be made in other centres. There was no reason why a big busiuess should not be built up.

Sir Andrew Russell, in the course of his speech, said that in the mattej; of the rehabilitation of disabled men there was none in New Zealand who took a keener or more sympathetic interest than Mr Cobbe, who deserved the sincere thanks of all returned men.

In seconding the motion for the adoption of the report, Mr W. E. Leadley (Christchurch) expressed the opinion that the increased membership was an indication that ex-servicemen were awakening to a. realisation that the organisation was vitally necessary to guard their welfare. He believed there was no organisation in the country which had done more to relieve unemployment, and he thought it a pity that these efforts were not more appreciated by the Unemployment Board. The report as a whole indicated that the fortunes of the Association were on the .up-grade and he believed they would continue to improve if! members adhered to their high ideals of comradeship and service. It was decided to send fraternal greetings, to the New Zealand Red CrOss Society, expressing appreciation of the work of that body in the interests of returned men and thendependents.