EX-SERVICEMEN'S CORNER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 31, 6 February 1943, Page 8

EX-SERVICEMEN'S CORNER

TIME TO MERGE FORCES

FIGHT FOR SOLDIERS' RIGHTS If the attendance at and active participation in the quarterly meeting of the R.S.A. is the symptom of an inclination on the part of the Second N.Z.E.F. to get together and pull together in the interests of all returned men, it must be welcomed. As was explained at the meeting, the efforts of the R.S.A. over the past two decades have not attained all objectives aimed at, though it should not be forgotten that the pension conditions in New Zealand are ahead of those In any other part of the British Empire. This has not been won without long, persistent and unremitting agitation, nor should the experience gained in that prolonged crusade be overlooked or undervalued. The cause of. the ex-serviceman and his dependents should in the future carry double the weight and power. It has been stated officially that there are 80,000 men overseas. That number may be greatly augmented before the cause for which they are fighting has been finally won. This, with the' remaining strength of the men of the last war, would mass a force which no political party could ignore or neglect without committing suicide. But the force must be a united force. It must be consolidated behind an agreed policj-. If divided into factions, or disunited, or impelled by opposing fundamentals, little success can be hoped for. There must be but one goal, the best that can be clone for the men and women who have suffered and their folks who have sacrificed, and it is time some definite approaches were made to synchronise and merge the forces fighting for that objective. * * * * THE ARMY LIFE DOES IT CHANGE CHARACTER? At a certain military establishment not far from Auckland there is a staff composed mostly of men of the Old Brigade. Certain symptoms observed in some of the personnel have raised the conjecture as to whether the army can change a man's general mode of and outlook on life. An intriguing instance is described in a letter from a member of the establishment to a former permanent orderly sergeant who has now returned to civilian life. The writer states: It is with deep regrets that we have to advise you of the steady decline of one you know so well, and revered when you were at camp. The worst has happened, and we, some of his old friends, are very worried. One day during Christmas, we were honoured by a visit from his wife and daughter, and in the course of conversation ,it was mentioned that we had a considerable amount of gardening to" do around the camp during the holidays. This N.C.O.'s wife immediately said that when that started, her husband would be missing, as he had never been known to do any work in the garden in his life, in fact he disliked' the look of garden tools so much that he sold them all, including the lawnmower. They used to make him have bad dreams. On one occasion he hired his garden out to graze a horse, and after two days the owner came to collect his property, but could not find it. After a search the animal was found hidden by the long grass. However, a working bee was started the next day, and to the astonishment of all, who should grab a rake but the N.C.O. this is all about. This incident seems to have been the start of his downfall. He has never been the same man since. In fact, we are beginning to think that a certain article written in a local newspaper some time ago about a man who should have been in uniform but was in civvies and was sighted in Symonds Street carrying a suspicious looking parcel was grossly misunderstood, and the contents misjudged. We now have to tell you of his latest. Our Dave, late Q.M., is canteen manager, and sales supervisor of lemonade, orange juice, ice cream, etc., at this depot. What pains us most, he seems to like his work, and what is worse seems to be changing his habits so much that we have a suspicion that when he goes to town he no longer does the "Square," visiting his old haunts. We write to tell you this in case you should see him in town one day going into some restaurant for a cup of tea. * * * * LOST R.S.A. BADGES Lost badges bearing the following numbers, and of this year's issue, can be recovered at the R.S.A. office: 54390, 3/2021, 1.M.P., 72166, 28208 N., 42419, 21518 N., 24/1235, 25/755, 3/286, 17192, 62503 N., 38072, 4/1860, A.I.F:N.Z. 13173 N., 47691 N., 11021, 24478, 64500 N., 12/4066, 13/2955, 375999, 15956, 14821, 7818 N.

Letter To The Editor

VERSES TO A COOK Dear Sir, People write of airmen and of admirals and such, And praise the sergeant-major when he doesn't matter much; And thev even give the corporals in their turn a line to book, But no one ever thinks of writing verses to a cook. Now, any man with brains can fly an aeroplane in time And roar like Ferdinand the Bull: "Attention! Fall in line!" And when vou know you're for it, like a soldier, fall and die, But not one out of ninety, sir, can make an apple-pie. I've often wondered bitterly why people of the Press Glamorise the battlefield and still ignore the "mess." It shows they're sadly lacking in their nation's fighting zeal, Without their daily victuals, sir, I wonder how they'd feel? So if your smart reporters and your poets want a look At what's 'behind the medals—let them interview the cook. —Mavis E. -Hills. * * * * UNFAIR TO PENSIONER AVIFE'S ALLOWANCE CUT A pensioner at the quarterly meeting of the R.S.A. on Thursday registered a protest against the cutting of his wife's allowance because she had been serving with the Waacs. It was stated by Mr. Roy Mason that the official view was that tne wife's allowance and the economic allowance were made to the pensioner on the grounds that the pension was insufficient to maintain the soldier and his family. If other income was coming into the home the wife's pension was reduced accordingly. Such a procedure, it will be readily understood, places the pensioner in a very unfair position compared with men who have never served, who may be on substantial wages or salaries and whose wives are at present engaged in lucrative occupations. As seems always the case, wars are harvests for some people, fortunes are made and family incomes are substantially augmented, but the man who has served and suffered is the loser all the way. No matter what his position was before enlistment or his prospects for the future when he responded to the call, if he comes back a broken man he is doomed to remain on the lowest economic and social basis, deprived of the opportunities which others have of raising himself beyond that level. * * * * DIGGERS SCORE AT LAST VICTORY AFTER TWO YEARS "Everything comes to him who waits," they say, and the victory scored in the ex-servicemen's cricket competition last Saturday by the Diggers' Club was their first in two years. Needless to say it was a day of great-rejoicing for the Diggers, and even the Newmarket team that had to bow the knee did not begrudge Ted Foster and his men their well deserved congratulations. To plug along week after week and season after season facing reverses each game is a test of perseverance, and speaks volumes for the sporting instincts of the players. It also bears striking testimony to the fine spirit of comradeship that animates the Diggers' Club. That last Saturday's success will only be the forerunner of many more is the wish of all the players in the competition, and there is still room for more. The competition is in an interesting stage and players find the games enjoyable. * COMING EVENTS MOUNT ALBERT CLTJB.—Monday, members and partners; Wednesday, indoor bowls, open drawn fours; Saturday, 20th. first flag 500 of the season: Saturday, 27th, indoor bowls, open tourney, 7.30 sharp . entries close Wednesday, 24th; library every Monday, bowls every Saturday afternoon, 2.15 p.m., members. NEWMARKET CLUB. —To-morrow, special band parade, club room, 9.45 a.m.; Monday and Friday, club nights, bowls; Tuesday, cards, whist; Wednesday and Saturday, cards, 500; Thursday, ladles' night, bowls. TAKAPUNA CLUB.—To-night, bowls, open mixed fours; Tuesday, club night; Wednesday, bowls, open men's full rink tourney; Saturday, bowls, open night, mixed fours. . GREY LYNN. —To-night, cards, progressive 500. also progressive bridge. St. Columba Hall. Surrey Crescent; Monday, whist. St. Columba Hall; Tuesday, crib tourney, club rooms; Friday, indoor bowls, open; Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, club room, open for members only. -TAMAKI CLUB.—Wednesday, bowls, open fours; Friday, progressive pairs, Parish Hall, St.- Helier's, 7.45 p.m. EDEN-ROSKILL CLUB.—To-night, cards, progressive 500; Monday, executive committee meeting. 7.30 p.m.; Tuesday, indoor bowls, club night; Friday, indoor bowis, open tournament. 7.45 p.m.; Saturday, cards, progressive 500. Fortnightly oldtime dances will recommence on Thursday, February 18. REMUERA CLUB.—Tuesday, 7.45 p.m.. gent's indoor bowling, competitions resumed; Thursday, 7.45 p.m.. ladies' and gent's bowling and brooches competitions. SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS.—AnnuaI picnic. Sunday, February 14, Point Chevalier (use tram family ticket).