RETURNED SOLDIERS’ AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 18258, 24 April 1923, Page 10

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ AFFAIRS

SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING. DROP IN MEMBERSHIP. The seventh annual meeting of tho Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association was hold in tho club in Moray place last night, the Hev. Hector Maclean (president) being in tho chair. _ Tho .Chairman, in moving the adoption of the annual report, said it represented a groat deal of activity. One of the points which ho would like to emphasise was that the association was dropping its membership „vo.ry considerably. This was a matter which should make them think seriously. When His Excellency the Governor-General recently addressed members of tho club he had said that Earl Haig was seriously concerned at tho drop widen had taken place in tho membership of the Returned Soldiers’ Association in New Zealand. Karl Haig hoped the leakage would stop, and that the membership would grow again, lie (the speaker) was sure everyone understood Earl Haig’s views on tho matter. They were really members of an Empire-wide association, bom out of comradeship in arms. There might bo a number of reasons for tho drop in membership. As tho report stated, individual subscriptions made it possible for the association to help hundreds of returned soldiers who were not in the position of being able to help themselves. It was perhaps thoughtlessness that caused a largo number to forgot to renew their subscriptions. The association had been working throughout the years in the interests of returned soldiers. Ho would like it to go out that they in Dunedin regarded wtih a great deal of seriousness the leakage in membership. He would like to point out that a great deal of work still remained for the association to do. The question of “ nttribntability ” was one. ot the biggest which the association would have to deal with. A great many returned men wore just beginning to break down, and the Government, through its departments, required a tremendous amount of proof that the disabilities of tho men were due to war service. Tho association should stick' to the point and make it as clear as possible that it stood for liberal treatment for returned soldiers who broke down. (Applause.) At least, all cases should be carefully sifted. In connection with pensions, the report of the Pensions Commission, in spite of representations made by tho association, had not been published yet. The matter should bo very closely watched. It was a great pity that Colonel Stewart, who was a member of the Canteens Fund Board, was deterred on account of the floods from being present to speak to them in connection with the canteens fund. This money had mounted up, and while some of it had been spent in various ways—in hospitals and other things—not a penny of it had been given to tire men to whom it belonged. How long were they going to stand that sort of thing going on '! A great deal of work had been done in tho office of the R.S.A. which could not he made public. Ho had been more and more impressed with the power the association had to right individual wrongs, ns he had seen ; from tho secretary cases in which the Government had absolutely turned the men down, but in which the association, determined not to leave tho cases there, had had these wrongs righted. If all tho work done in tho office could bo made public he was sure there would bo a great deal more interest and sympathy among tho men wtio wore not members of the association. A great deal of work must be done quietly and out of the public eye. Ho had much pleasure in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet. (Applause.) The motion was seconded and carried. OFFICE-BEARERS. The following office-bearers were elected President, Rev. Hector Maclean (re-elected); vice-presidents—Messrs P. Anderson and J. M'Crae; treasurer, Mr A. MHutchon; Executive Committee— Messrs F. A, Sims, G. R. Gregor, V. E. Sanders, D. Forsyth, A. G. Loedon, E. J. Anderson, R. Holt, H. 11. Walker, and P. S. Hill; auditors—Messrs Algie and Smcaton; lion, solicitor, Mr 0. E. Statham.