AFTER THE CONFLICT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2836, 29 July 1916, Page 10

AFTER THE CONFLICT

RETURNED SOLDIERS' CONFERENCE MINISTER AND COMMANDANT ATTEND

Many problems will arise out of the Ereat war now, it is hoped, Hearing its ciose. Not the least of these will lie problems concerning the future of returned soldiers. Yesterday delegates represented returned soldiers in the various parts of New Zealand, from Auckland to the Bluff, assembled in the new Returned Soldiers' Club. These are members of the Returned Soldiers' Association, which is now a solidly-estab-lished bod_y out to assist the returned soldier and give him a "leg-up" whenever lie may. need it.

The delegates present were:—President, Captain Donald Sinison; Wellington: Messrs. J. D. Harner, C. AV. Batten. A. Morton, AV. I. Ward; Christchurch: Messrs.- Douglas Seymour, N. D. M'Callem, I'. Dyer; Ashburton: Mr. R. H. Wild; Timaru: Mr. J- Meiuies; Dunedin: Messrs. C. R. It' Lean and J. L. Johnston; Invercargill: Mr. G. Miller; Greymouth: Mr. R. If. Wild; Nelson: Mr. A. Riches; Motueka: Corporal E. S. Pike; Blenheim: Mr. R. M. Thompson; Pnlmerston North: Messrs. H. M. Haycock and IC. Bnnn; Mnsterton: Mr. M'T.v/gart; Gisborne: Captain Pitt and Mr. W. C. Bremner; AA'anganui. Messrs. J. B. Rowe, J. R. Moore. T. H. King; Hamilton: Majoi Rustrick; Rotorua: Captain AVhiteley and Mr.. Morgan Robert's; Auckland: Lieutenant M'Cormiek. Conference Opened. The Mayor (Mr. ,T. P. Luke), who had been invited to be present, opened the conference with a brief speech. He said that. he had opened many conferences, but none with greater pleasure than l:ie one he was attending that day. Some of the men had returned with broken limbs or impaired in health, and were it not for this fact tlie.v would not remain in the country. He referred to the (Treat work the men had done for the Empire, and trusted that their efforcu would hell) to bring about lasting peace and hanpiness' for generations to come. What the citizens mostly admired in soldiers was their patriotism. They had gone away'with no object of gain, and the task they had carried out in the trenches of. Gnllipoli would never forgotten. He congratulated them oil having an excellent, man at their head as Contain Simson, who, ho remarked, bad done so much to help returned soldiers. On behalf of the citizens he wished to express their de.siro that the boys should have a, square deal, and personally h6 would' do all lie possibly could to help them. (Applause.) A r arious delegates, expressed their thanks to tho Mayor for his sympathetic remarks. Captain Pitt (a Tipresentativo of tho Maori race)', in thanking the Mayor, said that he did not think that a line- should be drawn between the Maori and the pakelia, as they were all fighting for the same cause. Captain Simsoh also thanked tho .Mayor for his offer of assistn.net. ' Major Norton' Francis, Director of Base Records, stated it had been the object of his Department to give the r«. turned soldier an absolutely square deal. Since he had visited the various returned soldiers' clubs he thought a better understanding had. been arrived at between returned soldiers and the Base Records Office. (Hear, hear.) On behalf of the Hon. X. L. ITerdman, Minister in Charge of the Returned Soldiers' Information Department, who was unavoidably absent, Air. Samson stressed the necessity of giving preference to ljeturued solders as far as employment was' concerned. The Minister's Arrival. On the arrival of the Minister-of Defence (the Hon. Jas. Allen), the president gave him the assurance that the Returned Soldiers' Association had been formed not only, to assist returned liion, but also to assist the Department. Ho thought that- an organisation such as they had formed, was absolutely, necessary i.n order i<> bring under the notice of the Minister and the Department the "pinions of those men who nad returned. In a "other year there would proba)>!v be W.OIW or 15,000 men back here, and by the time the war wos over there would probably b" snm« ffI.WW ,or 70,0(10 returnod me". They had met there that day to do the best they could for themselves, not only as returned soldiers, but as c't'-'Mis faking part in the general lifo of New Zealand. About Grievances. The Minister, who was roundly N applanned oil rising, said no had alwa.ys iiuuntuinea that these soldiers' ciuus were essential organisations to voice 1 me opinions of tho returned soldiers. It «uukl lie disastrous' if the Department only came into contact witii tlio opinions that represented only a lew returned soldiers. rutUy IX) per cent, of the men who went with tiro Expeditionary Forces were the best m New Zealand, but there were a few who manufactured grievances, Tho delegates at the cont'erenea as representing the returned soldiers would be ablo to assist these men and assist the Government in its general dealings with returned soldiers and those who might want to get the better of it. The Government wished to do nil it could to assist the returned men. He did nut think tlrs country wanted to spoil the returned men; nor did lie think the returned inon wished to be,spoiled. (Hear, hear.) it was desirous that they should bring back the lessons they had learned in camp nnd in the firing line, lie hoi'ed fliey would hang to these virtues—discipline was a virtue—and the.v would thus be able to do more for the Empire than bv anything else he knew of. He welcomed r:turned soldi-rra* organisations, and hoped they would got into the hands of the thinking men. The returned men probably realised more than tho c e who remained behind the problem of the welfare of the Euioire. T.he men who had been through tho real ordeal could nssfet in Hie solution of this great nrnble.m. No man who had 3">fn with the Anr"'" could say that anvlhing was impossible.

"Steer Clear of Politics!" He hi};l read with pride that morning of the doings of the Anzacs. If that spirit existed it could be transplanted to the lives of the citizens, and we would then be able to look forward with confidence to th« future of New Zealand and the British Empire. Don't for a moment, let them think that they had finished, their work. Let ihem t-y to hang o» to the lessons th»V had b"cu ipnilantfd '•■to them oufsid" nf*- New Zealand. Many nf then bad be.en nearer to death 'ha'! they had been before, end had donbtle" though*- of th« unki;"".-n fn- . His 'nvn firm faith wa* that no -\tfion '-onld b" t unless it had a deen rel'"in'is stability, .ami if they re-menibe'-ei' t'"» 'e«sous tlrv had ho v;n; ne'-feef'* Sure \vOM V Ije '•"■I ter I'itizoMc, Thev h"d fearle«tv faced ■'-"Hi. nnil lia Imnrd (he''" vnnlil frntisfimt fearlessness into their lives as "i .;<ii i'i 'i -• '-h:' 1 J-ljo n".'|t V.|S |o nil :(■ ( 0 'lnjr. I lien v'a.'iiori '•> "f end mli He!,.,.""d c->""li|dr'' It v'i]|ini7 n Vr y v success. (Prolonged apA r>i...>-t; 5 n Ti-.i W<*| Mnvtr nio a . a-.. \ r.0.. j„ Hl „ „ f „ rni',l 1|«,1 linflfl fp T ; t.-n Pnlnifl 1)o Mio.tyi nf '•••« M.-.V W nf \ i"in their oil'zoe's IT'>. fl.n" ah T "'nne n 'l H'"lW„., r -'.«„.1 n ,l M (U .l„Wnl n , : 'ivif">("io»i tn dinner on Saturday <n„.. n...„„ r \. we i,„,i „j vo „ f„, 1 "Inn, IV),-v ri>.>f,.w.n,. n went i"'-r>