RETURNED SOLDIERS' CORPS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2940, 28 November 1916, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS' CORPS

PROPOSAL DISCUSSED. . The proposal to form a returned soldiers corps for active service was discussed at a meeting of' the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association last night, when Mr. E. For moved: — . "That in the opinion of this association the time has arrived when returned soldiers who are willing a.nd anxious to return to the _ front should be given an opportunity to form themselves into a Returned Soldiers' Corps, and that the Headquarters of the New Zealand -Returned Soldiers' -Association be asked to move in the matter." Mr. Fox said that his motion was not a new one, and it had nothing at all to do with the Australian referendum. It had been framed arid discussed prior to the referendum, and it expressed simply the feeling of many' returned soldiers that those who were willing, to go back to the front should be given an opportunity to go as a body. His motion had nothing, compulsory about it, aaid might to regarded by some as premature. But there were returned men who felt that their friends still at tho front ought to have a spell. They felt, too, that if. they returned they ought not to be placed under yonng N.C.O.'s who had never been to the front at all. The men who had been "out_there" once did not wish to go back in company with conscripts. (Applause.) He agreed generally with the jdea. that every man- should go once before any man went twice. But the war was not finished yet, and there were no signs' on the horizon that it would be finished soon. The returned men might have to go back presently, and he would 'like them to make their claim now to go back together. Mr. Scale opposed the motion. He 6aid that 102,000 of the Australian soldiers on active service bad voted against conscription, and 43,000 had voted in favour of it. He himself was strongly opposed to conscription, and he objected to the motion because it would invite the Government to conscript returned soldiers, by suggesting that they were fit again for active service. Ho was quite sure that if the returned soldiers enlisted again they would not go back as a body. The Defence authorities would bo sure to distribute the experienced men among the raw recruits. In the course of further discussion another soldier said that men'who were opposed to the motion were not concerned at all. If some returned soldiers, himself among the rest, would like to go back as a body to the support of the men still at the front, they should he free to do so. The motion meant simply that if a 'returned soldier wished to re-enlist lie should have a chance and retain some distinct status. Another speaker pointed out that under present conditions returned soldiers whc> went into camp a second time bad specially good chances of promotion. After further discussion an amendment deferring the motion for three months was carried by a substantial majority.