THE RETURNED SOLDIER

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 34, 4 November 1929, Page 10

THE RETURNED SOLDIER

The Governor-General added to his -farewell message to the Returned Soldiers’ Association last week a not£ of inspiration to ideals of service and self-sacrifice. On many occasions,, he pointed out, he had tried to emphasise- these, as an encouragement to maintain and enlarge the membership.

“In such an association,” said His Excellency, “these are the main objects quite apart from the pleasure and advantage which we ourselves derive from companionship and social gatherings: First, the help which we can be to those who have suffered in one way or another from the war; and, secondly, the example and leading which we can give to the community at large. We can, in fact, if we realise our powers and responsibilities, be an immense factor for good in the country, especially in relation to the generation of young people now growing up.” It is important, for various reasons, that the Association. should maintain its vitality. Organisations born of the necessities and sentiments of their particular times are liable to suffer from waning interest and enthusiasm with the passage of years. The Returned Soldiers’ Association, has been a very good thing for the ex-soldier. It has effectively represented his interests in various ways, and continues tb do so. Although eleven years have passed since the Armistice there still remain to be settled a number of questions, arising out of the ex-soldiers’ war.service and his post-war status. That they have not been already settled is due to the fact that they are developed questions the nature of which could only be determined as the progress of circumstances and events revealed them. The Commission at present taking evidence may be regarded as an earnest of the fact that the country has not forgotten the claims of the ex-soldiers and is anxious to have a clear conscience in this connection.

It may possibly be wondered whether an association organised for mutual interests could live on after these interests had been ' definitely secured. That would depend very much upon the capacity of its members to envisage new fields of action. Little groups from the old regiments and brigades will no doubt continue for many years to come to meet at convenient centres in convivial intercourse, and fight their battles over again. The R.S.A. as a body, however, is not so much concerned at present with sentiment as with matters of administration and the conservation of the ex-soldiers’ rights by propaganda and legislative action. One feels, nevertheless, that as these responsibilities diminish new spheres of activity might profitably be sought along the lines indicated by His Excellency.