"TEAM WORK."

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18094, 9 June 1924, Page 7

"TEAM WORK."

COMRADESHIP OF SERVICE. FOREWORD OP N.Z.B.S.A.»S 1 REPORT. "It ain't the. guns nor armament, nor funds that they can pay, But the close 00-ox>eNation that maJres them win the day.. It ain't the individual, nor the array M a whole, . Bat the everlnatin' team, work of every bloomin' boul." —-Kiplitig. From the inception of the New land Returned Soldiers' Association it has l>een the "everlastin' team work" which has spelt success. In every walk of life be it before, during, or offer the war "team work"—unity, organisation, 00-operation —call it what you will, eventually bring? about the desired result. ' The past year of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association's activities has once again shown the results of unity, and may this opportunity be taken to onoe again appeal to those who have allowed their membership fo lapse. . Make the organisation greater than ft is. Your president, Sir A» Russell, K.C.8., K.C.M.G., is to. be away from this Dominion for abojit eighteen montlis; his remarks at the close of the February 1924 meeting concluded with these words:— . . . so long es the Association continued to contain men like the members of the Dominion Executive and other Executives throughout the country whom he could name, it would' remain an active force and an invaluable vehicle for social service not only for the ex. service men but for the community as a whole." These remarks from the leader of the Forces of New Zealand Overseas should mean much to those who have lost touch \Vith the organisation. It shows that the men in control of the various Associations aro worthy and capable in every respect; now, is it not a fair thing to keep the membership activo and increasingly strong, if only to show appreciation for the services so ungrudgingly .rendered by these men? A glance at the Ex-Service Men s Journals from Britain, Canada, France, Belgium, Itoumania and Australia shows that the question of declining membership is not peculiar •to this Dominion, but each organisation in these countries is convinced of the need for the continued co-operation and unity of the ox-service men; not only for the actual needs and welfare of themselves but also for the benefit of their nations. l&ch overseas organisation does a great deal towards assisting the solution of the problems effecting their various communities. Has the N.Z.11.5.A. to any extent, considered this point? Has it not rather, to the present time, been one long push for the benefits thought to lie fair and just for those who served New Zealand and the Empire during the years 1914-19 P Certainly these were the prime objocts of this organisation and they have been, and are being, done well, however, not only your president but .your life patron (H.11.H. the Prince of Wales) strikes the note of further assistance to our country, as follows:—" ... thß Conference (of the 8.E.5.L.) shows that the comradeship of service which enabled us to win the war is still alive throughout the Empire, and is still helping us in our efforts to overcome many grave ; and difficult problems with which we—jand, indeed, the whole civilised world—i are faced to-day." During the debate i upon the future of the Association | (February, - 1934 meeting, Dominion

"Executive) one speaker mentioned that the N.Z.R.S.A.-should live for a further twenty years and it will be noticed that the Dominion Council is to discuss tho consolidation and reorganisation of the Association. Now looking xvt the affairs of the most successful Associations in the organisation it will be seen that the social side .is - Tvell cared for. In other, woi-ds members have some inducement offered in return for their numerical and monetae support. To use the words of a British jvegion Secretary, "the branches should fiinTje the organisation and its policy and not the organisation make the. "branches and their policy," and therefore if it is considered that the N.Z JI.S.A. should broaden its scop© and endeavour to help in . the betterment: of conditions in this Dominion then the opportunity is afforded when , the future t>f the is- being, discussed. If it is desired tliat the should actively function for the twenty years mentioned above, it is certain something must be done to develop tho organisation and its objects. At the present time it 'can be said that the great majority of problems in connexion with the exservioe men, .have been successfully dealt with; therefor©, although" it would be wrong to disband now, unless the scope is broadened and. a fresh impetus given to the organisation, it is difficult to see how the present position of Dominion membership can be improved, let alone maintained." , The foregoing is the foreword of the N.Z.IL'S.A.'s annual report, written by the general secretary of tho tion. , V