RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 16529, 14 September 1917, Page 2

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

A meeting of the above association was held last night, Captain* R. P. Jones presiding. The Chairman said the object of the meeting was principally to discuss matters relating to the clubhouse. The association had been unable to get nny representation on the Anzac Clubhouse Committee. Members would thereforo see that the position was most unsatisfactory. It appeared to him, as it must have struck most members, that tho association were not wanted in the clubhouse. Mr, C. R. M'Lean said a business man had guaranteed the salary of the secretary for two years, and also*provided office accommodation. This gentleman was desirous of seeing tho association housed in a building of their own, and*would like Dunedin to have the finest building of the sort in New Zealand. Mr Watson moved—" That this meeting of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association are of opinion that steps should at once be taken to establish a new returned soldiers' clubhouse in Dunedin." This was seconded by Mr E. Stuart, who suggested that subscriptions be invited through the daily papers on the lines adopted by the Y.M.C.A. when it launched its building scheme. Mr R. Cowie said he, for one, was opposed to a residential club, which, in his opinion, was objectionable from several points of view. Mr W. E. Farquharson said he, too, was opposed to a residential club. What was wanted was a building which contained, at all events, a billiard room and writing room. It should be in the form of a memorial to fallen soldiers. He was of opinion that the present was the right time to launch a building scheme. The motion was carried. Tho pro=ent executive were nppointed a Building Committee, with power to add to their number, such committee to report to a future meeting. A letter was received from Sir James Allen, in reply to a communication protesting against the action of the authorities in giving the "base to men who had gone forward with recent reinforcements, the association being of opinion that those positions should be offered to men who had been in the firing line the longest. The Minister said that this was a matter which was entirely in the hands of the general officer commanding the Expeditionary Force, and he had asked a reply from him. When this came to hand he would again communicate with the asso-ciation.-r-Received. If was resolved that the Minister be asked for a return of the number of men occupying positions at tho base, showing separately those who had been to the front and those who had not. On Mr Watson's motion it was resolved to ask the headquarters of the association to make Representations to the authorities with a, view to having some distinguishing marks, such as a star, placed on business places belonging to returned soldiers' or soldiers' dependents, the same as was done in Great Britain. Th 9 following motion was carried.: " That this meeting of returned soldiersare of opinion that any amendments to the scale of allowances and. pensions for soldiers should apply not only to those who leave New Zealand in the future, but also to all soldiers already returned or at present on service, and thereforo demand that any increases shall be made retrospective to. the outbreak oft war."