RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2752, 22 April 1916, Page 12

RETURNED SOLDIERS

A CONFERENCE TO BE HELD POINTS FOR DISCUSSION A conference .of returned soldiers iB to be held in Wellington at the end of nest week with the object of forming a New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, and of considering various mat-1 ters of interest to men back from tho (vat, A statement concerning tho proposed conference was made to a reporter by Captain Donald Simson last night. "As the result of many meetings of returned soldiers, held over a period of several months in various towns, and tlio_ forming temporarily of various associations," he said, "I have called together a conference, to be held, on Friday and Saturday of next 'Week, of delegates representing the various centres. Tho representation will be on the basis of three delegates from the four cities of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dnnedin, two from towns like Invercargill, Palmerston, and Waliganui, and one from towns like Mas-t-erton and Asliburton. The delegates will discuss the formation of a New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, with branches in all towns where the numbers of men seem to justify the formation of them. An association has been founded in Australia on these lines, and I have been in communication with the Australian body. In correspondence with me they have suggested some measure of reciprocity, which may continue the fellowship existing between members of the two forces at- the front.-- _ i "The delegates will also discuss tho formation of returned soldiers' clubs,, and the running of them, and the establishment of information bureaux. It is my idea that in every centre, the association, the club, and the bureau, ought all to he in the samo building, I I and 1 suggest that 'they might bo in permanent buildings .erected .to comI memorate Anzac Day or some other event of the ivar. This information bu- , reau would bo a record of all the men who have come back, now about 6000. The records will servo as a guide in the | settlement of all grievances that may 1 arise, and it will prohahly he found that' tho grievances o? the 5000 men wo have here will be typical of those of the much larger number still to come. For this and other reasons the information bureau should be valuable. "Another point to be considered will h& that of issuing a universal badge to all returned soldiers. Every man s badge will bear on it the owner's regimental number, and the district from which he comes. In every other respect the badges will be exactly similar. I am going to suggest a metal badge, circular in dosign, say the size of half a crown, to be worn on the right breast. "The ideas which I have outlinned regarding, the formation of the association and clubs for the welfare of returned soldiers I have communicated to His Excelloncy tho Governor, and he lias been so good as to express approval of them. The scheme is under Sis Excellency's patronage, and it is approved and supported by, the Minister of Defence, the Chief justice, the Mayor of Wellington, and other prominent citizens of New Zealand. "Tho Government will be asked to grant free passes to delegates to tho conference, and if the Government do.es not grant the request the various patriotic societies will be asked to help."