An Outsider's View Of A Political R.S.A.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 247, 18 October 1941, Page 14

An Outsider's View Of A Political R.S.A.

IN the controversy which has been conducted in these columns for the past two weeks on the subject of a non-party political or a political R.S.A., views for and against have been expressed. Below is an outside opinion based on experience in another part of the British Empire and written, by request, by Mr. W. E. Leadley, of the Dominion executive, who was formerly secretary and also president of the Christchurch R.S.A.:— Some years ago I attended the first conference of the British Empire Service League held in South Africa under the presidency of the late Field-Marshal Earl Haig, writes Mr. Leadley. Ex-servicemen's affairs in South Africa at that time were in a most deplorable condition. There were about 10 separate ex-service-men's organisations functioning, some being political, others non-poli-tical, and others representing different branches of the service. They were continually fighting each other, instead of pulling together, and the consequence was that none of them "cut any ice" either with the Government or the general public. After the conference concluded the delegates accompanied Earl Haig on a tour of the Union, addressing meetings of ex-servicemen in all centres, and advocating that unity should take the place of disunity amongst exservicemen. At the conclusion of this campaign, I am happy to state, all these small organisations agreed to form one big association, with a non-party political constitution, and named it the South African branch of the

British Empire Service League. This organisation has never looked back, and it plays a most important part to-day in the rehabilitation of South African ex-servicemen. It is sincerely hoped that New Zealand ex-servicemen will not fall into the same error as the South Africans did after the last; war, but will remain united in one strong nonparty political association. More than 600 returned members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. have already joined up with the N.Z.R.S.A. and more are signing up each week. -i There is a wonderful opportunity for real service ahead of us. United in one powerful association great things can be accomplished, but if we are divided into a small number of factional or political units we would surely fail. Mr. Leadley adds: Since its foundation in 1916 the N.Z.R.S.A. has remained a non-party political association, and although attempts have been made in the past to alter this clause in the constitution the association has rejected all such attempts and has remained steadfast to its non-party political status. It will therefore be realised that any branch of the association, which by resolution of a general meeting of its members deoiaes to become party political, can no longer be affiliated with the N.Z.R.S.A. and its members would forfeit their right to wear the association badge. The strength of the N.Z.R.S.A. lies in the fact that included in its ranks are men of all shades of political opinion. These men continue their membership because they are satisfied that the N.Z.R.S.A., as a' nonparty political organisation, has done and is doing splendid work on behalf of ex-servicemen and their dependents.