RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15605, 1 June 1916, Page 9

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

o LAST SIGHT'S MEETING. A general mooting' of tho Returned Soldiers' Association was held in tho Soldiers' Club Rooms last night, Mr D. J. B. Seymour being in the chair. AISJI BADGES. Sergeant Cotton said that the returned men seemed to object to wearing' their arm badges, as they considered them conspicuous. He thought that this attitude was wrong, as to wear tho badges would, in his opinion, aid recruiting. Ho moved that all returned soldiers should mako it a point of honour to wear their badges. Sergeant Seed said lie had not worn 1113 badge becauso he thought people might think he looked well enough to be at tho front. A great many were in tho name position. Ho concurred .with Sergeant Cotton, however, in agreeing that it would be advisable to wear tho badges. Mr McCallum pointed out that the red badge was tho important one. Tho Association's badge did n<>t take its place at all. An Ashburton recruiting officer said he had approached men on some occasions and they had pulled the red badges out of their pockets. He urged that a man with tho red badge should wear it. as it indicated that ho had been honourably discharged from the service. After sonic further discussion tho motion was carriod. It was agreed to write to haulqurirlors in Wellington expressing a wish that it should obtain information from branches in regard to rod badges, with a view ot having tho matter placed before the Government. COMMISSIONS. The committee submitted a report which it is proposed to send on to the executive in Wellington touching on the system of awarding commissions in tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Tli© report criticised tlie system in vogue, which was a evstem of "rags and patehes," and strongly advocated mere consideration being given to the just claims of men who had had actual experience at tho front. LAND FOE SOLDIERS. A discussion ensued 011 tho question of land for soldiers, and Sergeant Cotton gave details of some investigations he had made in the matter. From what ho had been informed, ho believed that the Government had some fairly liberal scheme in view, but at present the matter was rather in tho nil 1 , and it would probably be some time before definite proposals were made. It was mentioned that the Wairarapa Patriotic Association had offered to make a liberal advance, without interest, to soldiers who took u'i land, and that tho Canterbury Patriotic Fund\ Executive had a!so suggested advancing a percentage of any moneys advanced by the Gcpvernment to men taking up land. The opinion wp.3 expressed that some uniformity in the matter of assisting men who took up land should be obtained if possible, bo that tho conditions all over the Dominion would be uniform. HONORARY MEMBERS. The question of tlio advisability or otherwise ot admitting honorary members into the Association was discussed, and opinions were divided on tho subject. The secretary said the idea was to assist as far as possible the finances of the Association, at any rate in the early stages. The idea, had, he said, been affirmed by the Wellington Conference, and no voico had boon raised against it there. One speaker, who was against tho idea of allowing any but a few select honorary members to join tho Association, said ho thought an appeal to the public would raiso sufficient funds to start with. While tho war was on, it was hardly a time' to launch out into ambitious expenditure. ARTIFICIAL LIMBS. Tho secretary read a letter which had been sent to tho Minister of Defence on tho question of artificial limbs, asking for particulars of the assistance given by tho Government to men who had lost a iimb or limbs, and if the Government would refund tho money for any limbs which had been ordered or procured privately. No reply had been received so far to tho Association's communication. DEPARTURE OF RECRUITS. It was decided that tho Returned Soldiers' Association should turn out when tho monthly reinforcements of recruits went into camp. It was agreed that it would show a good spirit to give tho departing men a'good 6end-olf.