ANTI-WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 30, 5 February 1935, Page 10

ANTI-WAR

RECENT MEETINGS

RETURNED MEN'S ATTITUDE

The New Zealand Returned' Soldiers' Association desires to make it clear that the representative of the branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association at the recent anti-war meetings, even if his remark of three thousand supporters were correct, only spoke for a very small percentage of the Dominion body of ex-servicemen. With this as sertion the association concludes a statement which has been forwarded to "The Post." The rest-of the statement is as follows:—

"The New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association notes that at the anti-war movement meetings held in Wellington on February 2 and 3, one of the representatives stated that he represented 3000 men who would definitely support the 'world statement and programme.'

"In fairness to the speaker, and to the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association and its 80 branches, it is mentioned that the impression created by his statement would imply that the 3000 members of the body which sent him to the meeting had expressed their approval of the proposed programme. .This is hot so; it is unlikely that 10 per cent, of the 3000 alluded to have discussed the proposals, or have even had an opportunity of thoroughly discussing other than the broadest possible views on the great and most vital problem of 'no more war.'

"The problem has been given consideration by the Dominion Council of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, and its decision was not lightly arrived at. , Similarly, the British Empire Service League, which met in Melbourne in, November last, and which acts on behalf of active members totalling over 9,000,000 of those who served in the Great War, has also definitely stated its position.

"Clearly and plainly, 3ie ex-service-men, allied or late enemy, detest war and the thought of more war. They feel that the problem is so huge and intricate that as loyal organisations they should not participate in any controversy, but should have confidence in the general public of the world to remember the horrors and hardships of the last great conflagration and to impress, upon the leaders of the nations the imperative necessity of every endeavour being made to avoid armed conflict."

The Italian salvage vessel Arpionc has recovered from the sea's depths approximately £10,000 worth of copper off Galley iHcad, in the South' of Ireland,