N.Z.E.F. AND R.S.A.

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23944, 11 May 1943, Page 2

N.Z.E.F. AND R.S.A.

NEW BODY CONSIDERED UNNECESSARY (0.R.) ‘ OAMARU, May 10.

When requesting that the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association should define its attitude towards the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association, at the annual meeting of the Oamaru R.S.A., Mr G. P. Cuttriss said there was no necessity to bring another returned men’s organisation into existence, and that the new body should be invited to link up with the parent organisation. It was subsequently stated that the proportion of returned men from this war joining up with the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association was three to one. “This question of associations is one that should receive serious consideration.” said Mr Cuttriss. “We have the R.S.A., the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association, an A.E.I. Association, and we may have a defaulters’ association, and possibly an association of those who haven't served lr any war. (Laughter.) The relation between the Returned Services’ Association and the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association is that of father to son. and we should assure the members of it of our desire to co-operate with them; in fact, there shouldn’t be another association. We should Be prepared to hand over the reins of government of the organisation we have created for our sons, and if we do this I am satisfied we will hear less and less of the new association.” , .. Mr N. H. Colquhoun, as one of the branch’s delegates to the annual confercnce, pointed cut that the Returned Services' Association had already expressed its willingness to take in the new association. As a matter of fact, for every one returned man of this war who joined the new association three joined the Returned Services Association. . Mr J. Hoskins: The new association has a membership of 1200 There must be some reason for it. Why have those 1200 men joined the new otgamsati0 Mr J. Graham (a returned man from the present war) said that before he left Egypt he was told iwt to join the Returned Services’ Association, but on his arrival in the Dominion he had thought for himself and joined the association. (Applause.) The opposition in Egypt to the association, he thought, was prompted by the fact that the "boys” attributed the present-day troubles to the older men who were at the head of affairs. This terminated the discussion.