MEN WHO RETURN

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 6, 8 January 1916, Page 9

MEN WHO RETURN

ASSOCIATION TO BE FORMED ; TO PROTECT THEIR WELFARE. CAPTAIN SIMSON WANTS THINGS ALTERED. When the meeting for returned soldiers, convened by Ca.pt. Donald Sinwon, .opened in the V.M.C.A. yesterday afternoon, there was an attendance of approximately forty, which shortly afterwards had swelled to eighty. Captain Simson, who presided, after explaining that Iris object in forming the association was the welfare of the returned men (as outlined in yesterday's Post)., said that recruiting had failed. He had told the people in Christchurch that it had, and he was reprimanded for it. (Laughter.) All the same, recruiting was at a dead end, because there was so much diesatisfaction, so much misunderstanding, and so much that was false j in the newspapers. "Only the other day the newspapers published such headlines as 'End of the War in 1916' and 'Kaiser Wilhelm has Cancer of - the i Throat,'" continued the Bpeaker. They publish all these sort of things, and the Minister of Public Health gays that the war is going to end ki October—he didn't say the exact day. (Laughter.) Some -papers publish that the 11th Reinforcements are 312 men short, and they are afraid the 12th are going to be short too. (Laughter.) Can yon wonder that there is a failure in recruiting? It is all bunkum The war is not going to end in October. Men eaid 'Am I going to throw up my farm or my business when they can finish the war without me?' The truth is we have been whacked all along the line." (Applause.) We wouM -win in the long run—he believed that—but it would not be because Germany wae exhausted. If we waited for Germany to be exhausted at would be after the best men in Eng- I land and New Zealand had laid down Mieir lives.

■ The speaker added that.it was not the pay that attracted the soldiers—£l a day would not be sufficient for risking \ their jives as they were doing, and in Ms own case £5 a day would not be sufficient—but they fought, and took the risk because of their love of Empire and their intention to "see it througn." But they received 5s a day in the South African Wai-, and there had been allTOund increases in the cost of living and wages, and eoldiers were entitled to the same increase as those who followed peaceful occupations were receiving. At the same time, it must not bo for- | gotten that tue soldiers at Home were receiving only Is 9d a day. The men, however, must not make the mistake of thinking that they cottld write to the papers and stand at street corners to ventilate their grievances, 'fa^y must do it through their association. They must also recognise their responsibilities and deal with the returned men who were misbehaving themselves. If they did not accept these responsibilities they could hot expect recognition as a body. Then, if returned soldiers went to business men with grievances they would say: 'Take it to the association, and if it is genuine we will back it uv." (Applause.) • Again referring to the newspapers, Captain Simson. said a. heading had appeared in connection with the 2s messing allowance, " Another Concession to th« Soldiers," whereas the sum total was that all men who had gone to the front were to receive the allowance, instead of.it only coming into operation on Ist January. As regards railway . passes, every returned man should receive a free one for three weeks to enable him to visit 'his relatives and comrades in hospital. They were told that it was not desirable for the returned soldiers to travel, because they should bo resting. Why, the only rest a returned soldier got was leaning up against a lamp-post or walking the streets! (Laughter.) The novelty of welcoming returned soldierswas wearing off, as of the public who now attended 75 per cent, were ladies. It only showed that the business men did not realise the seriousness of the war and the sacrifice the men had made who had gone to the front. If a man was killed at the front that was the end of his grievances, but if ho came back wounded or invalided and asked for a small percentage of the things he was promised before he went away he becamo a nuisance. (Applause.) As long as he had breath. in his body he would see that the returned soldier was not a nuisance. He was going to form these associations throughout New Zea- | land by hook or by crook. Ho was out for nothing else than to do his best while the war was on. '' I have no axe to grind," he continued, " and I don't want anything at all. lam not going to stand for. Parliament, so I don't want votes. I won't, stand » Staff job ;. I won't take 'a billet of any •description in. Now Zealand. But when I havo finished with this association I will say ' Good-bye, and God bless yon.' " (Laughter.) Captain Simson then explained that he.. thought of appealing to the public for a building suitable for the Relumed Soldiers' Association—a building in which there wonld be a writing-room, a billiard table, a bathroom, and other rooms on similar lines to those already established in New, Zealand. If he ap. pealed to 2000 fathers of sons at the front to subscribe £1 a month for the next twelve months it would mean that £2000 a month wonld be available, and, taking the basis of each club as £200 a month, they would haV6 ten clubs in different parts (in addition to those already established) to start with. In conclusion, he, moved a formal motion asking those present to endorse the decision to establish a Returned Soldiers' Association and Club in every centre, J and the resolution was carried unanimously. The meeting then went into committee to discuss the financial and other details associated with the inauguration of the j association. j