WORK NOT CHARITY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 35, 10 August 1933, Page 13

WORK NOT CHARITY

K.S.A. ACTIVITIES

ALLEVIATING DISTRESS

AUXILIARY COMMITTEES

Although nearly fifteen years have passed since peace was declared, tho returned-soldier problem in Now Zealand today is more- acute than ever. As the years go by tho men who returned from the war feel more and more the value of close comradeship and mutual help and. co-operation, and in an endeavour to bring this about the Wellington Keturned Soldiers' Association is doing everything in its power. About two months ago tho association designed a scheme for forming auxiliary committees in.the various suburbs of Wellington with, the object of keeping alive the spirit of camaraderie among the returned men, increasing the membership of the association, and affording assistance to those in distress. Since tho scheme was first inaugurated, committees have been formed at Karori, Kilbirnie, Seatoun, Brooklyn, and Wadestown, and reports indicate that they are serving well the purpose for which they were formed. ' A meeting of returned soldiers will be hclct at Hataitai tonight, and at Island Bay on August' 17 for the purpose of forming auxiliary committees in these districts. A committee has also been formed at Plimmerton, and is working under the Porirua sub-branch of the Ecturned Soldiers'. Association. Arrangements are. being made to form committees at Ngaio and Johnsoiiville, and the association is anxious to communicate with returned men who are prepared to assist in. forming committees at Kelburn, Ncwtown, Miramar, and Khandallah, ' . -..- The committees that have already been formed have been, the means of greatly increasing the 'work of the R.S.A. among. returned soldiers. Tho Karori committee reports that it has enrolled 27 new members, and has found work for a considerable number of exsoldiers. Social functions, consisting of a smoke concert, dance, and a concert organised by the Wellington Amateur Operatic Society have been provided fo^ tho soldiers in the district and thenwives. These functions have also helped to augment tho funds of the committee to enable it to carry on its work. The Kilbirnie committee has enrolled 46 new members, and has found employment for 20 men. This cornittee is arranging for several social functions. At Seatoun several new members havo been enrolled. Two smoke concerts have been, held, and arrangements are being made to hold a dance on August 23. Although recently formed, tho Brooklyn commmittee is commencing activities along similar lines to., the other committees. The auxiliary committees are at present engaged in taking a census of all returned soldiers in their respective districts for the purpose of finding out the necessitous cases, and increasing tho membership roll of the 8.5.A., . REGISTER OF UNEMPLOYED.* The executive of tho K.S.A. has inaugurated a scheme for finding work for unemployed'returned men when they are not engaged on relief work, and where possible placing them in permanent positions. With tho assistance of tho auxiliary committees a register of all unemployed returned soldiers'is being made, and so far about 750 men have registered. Through this register, which gives the occupation of every man, the association is able to select; men for any work that is offering.: Where permanent work or work under the Unemployment Board's scheme cannot be found for the men, the association is prepared to subsidise approved work from its own funds as far as the funds will allow. Where work is paid for at the rate of 10s a day, the, association will grant a subsidy, on a fifty-fifty basis,, that is,,the- employer will pay 5s and the association ss. The association is also arranging to, employ soldier relief workers during their stand-down period in making commodities for other returned soldiers. For this work the men will be paid by the association. ' . The main object of the B.S.A. executive is to use^its funds to provide work for soldiers, instead of charity. Social activities are also being revived by the association, and entertainments, to be staged in the various committee districts, are being arranged by Mr. Stuart Nelson, who was principal '"girl" of the Kiwi Concert Party in France. An ex-soldiers' male voice choir and orchestra are also being formed, and although the association has a central billiards club, it is hoped to form similar clubs and other sports clubs in districts where there are auxiliary committees, association also has in. mind the formation of a social club which will provide monthly I supper. concerts for returned soldiers.