NEW BRANCH FORMED

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23919, 10 April 1943, Page 4

NEW BRANCH FORMED

2ND N.Z.E.F. ASSOCIATION

A well-attended meeting of returned men of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, with relatives and next-of-kin, was held last evening in Christchurch. Mr E. L. Thwaites, Dominion president of the association, presided. Mr J. H. Battersby (Dominion organiser) was also present. After outlining the constitution and progress of the association in other centres the president dealt with its aims and objects, and what had already been accomplished towards remedying anomalies which beset returned men.

Many questions were asked about difficulties, and the chairman said that although much had been accomplished, a tremendous task still lay ahead of the association, whose members must not only take an active part in the administration of rehabilitation in all its phases, but must this time take an active part in the framing of the legislation which would have such a vital effect on the lives and happiness of thousands of returned men and their dependants. He emphasised that this time the members themselves must bring into their civilian lives that spirit of cooperation and mutual help to which so much of the success of the division could be ascribed. They must take an active part in all civic affairs, for the association was determined that the services of the ablest and finest men New Zealand had produced should not be lost to the country.

It was unanimously resolved that those present constitute themselves the Christchurch branch of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association and a committee of 14 members was elected under the chairmanship of Captain A. A. Cooper,