RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 104, 26 January 1939, Page 8

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION

Review By N.Z. President ITS ACTIVITIES SINCE INCEPTION A review of the activities of the New Zealand returned Soldiers’ zVssociation from its formation in 1916 till the present was given by the president of the association, Mr. Perry, M.L.C., at the monthly luncheon of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association yesterday. Mr. Perry said that the R.S.A., like all young things, had in its early stages, suffered from growing pains. Some of the old "Diggers.’’ on their return, thought they should get the moon and ‘the stars, and be kept more or less for the remainder of their lives by-a grateful country. Tlwe had been some stormy meetings in those days. Mr. Perry went on to relate the improvement in the lot of the returned soldier which had been brought about by the representations of the association, such as the appointment of a member to the War Pensions Board, amendments to the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act, the setting up of the Revaluation Board, Soldiers’ Re-establishment League, and the War Pensions Appeal Board. One of the most heated debates the association had ever had was in 1930 over the question whether they should become a political organization. By a narrow majority they had decided to remain a non-sectarian and non-poli-tical body, and"this, in his opinion, was the. wisest decision the association had ever made. The association had always been reasonable in its requests, and had aimed at constructive suggestions, and because of this had always received a good hearing from the Government of the day. Among the helpful measures which had been put on the Statute Book as a result of representations from the association had been the Discharged Soldiers’ Re-establishment Act, which had. been followed by the setting up of the Soldiers’ Re-estab' lishment League.

Never Cringed to Government. “The U.S.A, has never cringed to any Government/’ .said Mr. Perry, “and in nine cases’ out of 10 our representations have been acceded to. Our policy has ■been 'based on argument and reason. The day has' long gone past when the reprobate qualities of the returned soldier were a pain and scandal to the godly men who didn’t go to the war.” ■ Tlie returned soldiers today were Showing that they were still prepared to assist the Government and thc country by volunteering to augment the permanent and territorial forces. The Beturned Soldiers’ Association still existed to do its best for the dependants of the 17,000 members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force . who did not come back to New Zealand. Mr. Perry said that the depression from 1930 ttfl93-j: had brought innny members into the ranks of the association. In 1927 they had 7000 members, and by last year the numbers hnd swelled to 30,256. He urged all returned men to join thc association, and those who were members to gtick to the organization, and help to maintain the high reputation which it had built up. A vote of thanks to Mr. Perry was carried by acclamation, on the motion of Mr. W. E. Lcadley. Well-Deserved Honours.

The president of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association, Colonel A. Cowles, who presided, on behalf, of returned men extended congratulations to Sir Charles Luke and Mr. S. J. Harrison, 0.8. E., on the honours which had recently been conferred on them by the King. Colonel Cowles said that Sir Charles Luke had well deserved the honour he had received, as for many years lie had been an indefatigable worker in the public interest. He had served for a long period on the Wellington Hospital Board, and during the war years and ever since he had attended almost daily at the office of the 'Wellington War Relief Association to help returned men and their dependants. Mr. Harrison, who was secretary of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, also deserved the honour he had received. Mr. Harrison said he looked on the honour which had been conferred on him as having been paid to the association.