PORT EX-SERVICEMEN

Evening Star, Issue 21218, 27 September 1932, Page 9

PORT EX-SERVICEMEN

ADDRESSES BY R.S.A. REPRESENTATIVES REVIVAL OF ACTIVITY ANTICIPATED Members of the executive of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association visited Port Chalmers last night and addressed a well-attended meeting of ex-seryicemen on the aims of the association. Three members of tlie association—Messrs A. J. Gordon (vicepresident), O. L. Ferens (secretary), and H. E. Sapsford (official canvasser) —were present, and the Mayor of Port Chalmers (Mr J. Watson) presided. The Mayor paid a tribute to the work the association was doing on behalf of returned men. He said a number of returned soldiers resided in Port Chalmers, and the association was anxious to form a committee there. The executive of the association had shown its interest in all returned men by recently giving assistance to those on relief work in the borough. Some years ago there had been a returned soldiers’ club in Port Chalmers which had been a strong body, but it had gradually declined, as many of the members had drifted to others parts of the dominion. The club left assets, and it would be necessary to dispose of these in a suitable way. He understood that the billiard table bad been disposed of, and there was a small sum of money in the Post Office Savings Bank. Mr F. C. Smith, formerly president of the Port Chalmers Returned Soldiers’ Club, explained the manner in which most of the club’s assets had been disposed of. He moved that the trustees should be instructed to draw the money now lodged in the Post Office Savings Bank and hand it to the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association for the purpose of assisting the widows and orphans of ex-soldiers residing in Port Chalmers.

The motion was seconded by Mr C, Timlin and carried. Mr Gordon said the 'Returned Soldier’ Association was affiliated with the British Empire Service League. The grand president of the League was Earl Jellicoe, who had succeeded the late Earl Haig. Both had rendered signal service to their country and to exservicemen. The president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, General Sir Andrew Russell, had materially assisted to place the association in the high position of respect it held in the eyes of the public to-day. Valuable assistance had been rendered to the legislators of the dominion by the Returned Soldiers’ Association in the passing of legislation in respect to soldiers’ settlements, pensions, and the after-care of ex-soldiers. Following the passing of the pensions and lands legislation there were a number of amendments. in 1921 a land revision board was appointed. This was followed in 1923 by the revaluation of soldiers' settlements, which had resulted in a reduction of values and a consequent reduction in rents. In the same year a commission of inquiry had been appointed to inquire into pensions generally, with the result that increased pensions were granted to seriously incapacitated soldiers, whilst the economic pension was instituted to enable the ont-of-work pensioner to obtain a pension sufficient to enable him to live without undue hardship. Later in 1928, as a result of close contact maintained between the association and returned men, it was considered that a large number of ex-soldiers, pensioners, and others were, as a result of wounds and ill-health, unable to secure employment. In 1929 the Returned Soldiers’ Association was successful in having a commission of inquiry appointed to inquire into the position of these men, with the result that in 1930 the Disabled Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment Act was passed, which provided some measure of assistance. Advisory committees had been appointed in each centre, together with an employment officer, whose duty it was to try and place those men in useful occupations. Unfortunately, success had been meagre to date owing to the economic conditions, but it was hoped that when trade brightened a greater measure

of success would be achieved. Recently the association was successful in getting the Government to eliminate pensions received for war disabilities when giving work under the present unemployment scheme, thus placing pensioners on a much better footing than hitherto. In view of these achievements,. which were considerable, but formed only a part of the work carried out, it was felt that the association was achieving results of value to ex-service-men. The speaker said it was absolutely necessary to make provision for the man who had served overseas. He appealed to those ex-servicemen present to do their utmost to induce exsoldiers to join the association, which body, after all, existed for the purpose of looking after the interests of every returned soldier and to assist him when in need.

Mr Ferens stated that the principal work of the R.S.A. was to look after disabled men and widows and children of deceased soldiers. During the last two years the main activity had been relieving unemployment. It had been the endeavour of the association to assist the country districts to the fullest extent with the money which was available, for the Executive Committee fully realised that until the “ stand down ” week was abolished the men were in urgent need of assistance. On behalf of the Executive Committee ho wished to thank the mayor and all those helpers who very generously from year to year bad come forward to assist the association in the Poppy Day appeal. It was only owing to the wonderful response that the executive received that it had been able to do so much in the past, and to alleviate in some small way the acute hardships which the exservice men were suffering as a result of the depression. Pension matters had again been on the increase, and the amount of work that was involved in preparing''cases to go before the War Pensions Appeal Board in collecting evidence, etc., occupied a great deal of time. The achievements of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association in this respect had been outstanding, for the parent body had been instrumental in the first place in the setting up of this board, which had brought relief and happiness to so many homes. The income tax on all pensions was now declared exempt. South African campaigners and Imperial reservists had had their pension scales raised to the, level of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force men. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association was also instrumental in increasing the allowance to limbless men attending the artificial limb factories. It was in. 1932 that pressure was brought to bear by the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, so that the economic pension was first placed on the Statute Books of this country, and those men who were in receipt of a disability pension of £1 or more were thus able to receive this benefit and so live on a pension which, if they had been able to earn, they would not have been able to enjoy. About this time no war pension claim could be received unless it had been lodged within seven years after the soldier had received his discharge, and the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association was instrumental in having this abolished. All claims could now be reviewed at any time by the War Pensions Board. Only recently, when the National Expenditure Economy Commission made its report, which recommended that all pensions, war disability pensions, etc., should be reduced by 10 per cent., after repeated representations had been made to Cabinet and the Minister of Pensions, the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association was able to report that no disability pension would receive this reduction. The Imperial pensioners received a rebate on the exchange as from January, 1930, and this amount involved was approximately £75,000.

if there had not been a strong association, and a strong headquarters, then he felt sure that very little would have been accomplished, and all those who had received benefits from pensions alone had nothing but heartfelt thanks for the good work that was being done. Unemployment has been very acute, and after close on ten months’ representations, the association was able to have the anomaly whereby pensions were treated as income, removed. Anzac Day, which was of halltfed memories to all those who served \tith the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, and to which so many payed homage in memory of those soldiers who* would never return, had been protected by legislation, which was introduced by

the New Zealand Returned Association. The name was thus legally; protected, and the day was treated as a Sunday. Last year the association; was able to give 700 Christmas gifts to those who were unemployed, with! money generously forthcoming from tho, Otago Patriotic Society, from the Grace Lillian Mitchell fund, and also from the Returned Soldiers’ Association. The Christmas treat, which was held early in December, was for those children; whose fathers were killed at the war., The committee tried to take the place of those fathers once in the year, and the little gifts were to remind the chili dren that as long as there was an asi sociation they would be thought of. Flock House has given the -association] an added interest, whereby sons of de* ceased, disabled, and fit men were now) accepted by the trustees, and received] training in rural occupations at the station. The cost of training was £SO for an eight months’ course, and td date the association had sent forward! nine boys, and in all cases except twoi the money had been generously forth* coming.

The association was anxious to in* crease its membership. The New Zea* land Returned Soldiers’ Association had a membership of 6,671 in 1927, hut on] March 31 of this year the membership; had increased to 12,765, an increase of •91.35 per cent. This alone showed that' as the years passed the “Digger’ll realised more and more that service wajj berofe self, and unity was strength,, and as time went on the need would be greater and the problems. more ex* acting. There was no finer instance to* day of this than in the way the old South African veterans had come to* 1 gether as a body, and he predicted that! in thirty years’ time those who were still alive out of the members of the! New Zealand Expeditionary Force would have come together as the old South Africans had done. No “ Dig* ger ” who had passed to the Greafi Beyond in this city had gone to aj pauper’s grave, and as long as there! was an association it would be the oh* ject of it to see that all who served their King and country should receive! a proper and fitting burial. ... . ’ The Mayor said those present must? feel very much indebted to Messrs Gon' don and Ferens for placing the policy of the Returned Soldiers’ Association,’ so clearly before them. He then in* vited those present to ask questions ort any subject on which they might be indoubt. After Mr Ferens had answered ques* tions, the Mayor suggested that it would be to the advantage of the re* turned men in Port Chalmers to form' a committee. They would then be in; a position to give due consideration toi all matters, especially in regard to unemployment, and to communicate with the secretary of the Returned Sol* diers’ Association. Mr A. Coleman said he wished td emphasise the fact that it was to thej advantage of every ex-serviceman to be* come a member of the Dunedin Re* turned Soldiers’ Association. • The following committee was ap* pointed:—Messrs D. Forsyth (chain man), F. C. Smith, A. Coleman, .T., Smith, C. Timlin, H. Watson, and ll. : Montgomery (secretary). On the motion of Mr F. C. Smith, a! vote of thanks was passed to Messrs’ Gordon and Ferens for their interest*' ing addresses.