RETURNED SOLDIERS' AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 20905, 23 September 1931, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS' AFFAIRS

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE A meeting of the executive of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association was hold in tho club rooms last night. Mr W. F. Forrester (president) was in tho chair. Sixteen new members were nominated and elected, and one transfer inwards was approved. Tho Unemployment and Poppy Day Committee reported that 134 men had boon employed at Chisholm Park during tho last fortnight. In Dunedin and suburbs £I,OOO had been spent in tho relief of distress, while tho country districts had received £4OO in small grants, for which the recipients had been very grateful. The Secretary reported that the association was to have tho privilege of naming tho tees and fairways at tho new Chisholm Park golf course after famous battles or persons. Regarding the dismissal of a number of employees of the Railway Department, a letter was received alleging injustice on the part of tho Railway Board. It was realised that retrenchment was necessary, but tho writers maintained that ex-servicemen should be the last to bo dismissed. Tho letter went on to suggest that tho association should, if possible, make the Rehabilitation Act apply at once and so prevent any more returned men from being dismissed. It was also suggested that an attempt he made to influence the Railway Board to reinstate tho soldiers who had been dismissed. It was considered that a. deputation from the Dominion Executive should moot the Railway Board and discuss matters affecting the returned men. Tho secretary stated that single men wore being retained while married men were botng dismissed. —It was resolved that tho president, vice-president, and secretary of tho association meet representatives of the dismissed men and learn tlie fail facts.