Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, APRIL 6th, 1922. GREY R.S.A.

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 April 1922, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, APRIL 6th, 1922. GREY R.S.A.

It is a matter for sincere regret that the affairs of the Grey branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association are not so flourishing as is desirable, and this regret will be shared by patriots who stayed at home as well as those who went on active service. By the very nature of the Association it was not to be expected that enthusiasm and support for it would keep at high-water mark year after year, but the tide in the Grey branch’s progress has ebbed very speedily, and it cannot be disguised that the new executive has before it a. long hard pull, especially as the social club room is no more available. The Association as a whole deserves to be supported; its aims are noble and its policy has for the most pact been commendable. Much good work has been achieved for exsoldiers, and to its good offices can be mainly ascribed the falsifying of the predictions that friction would arise when the soldiers were repatriated. The time is yet far off when the U.S.A.’s purpose cam he claimed to have been accomplished, and should apathy increase, the greatest sufferers will be that section of the returned men who through injuries and hardships suffered during the war are not in a position to play a lone hand in days of peace. Doubtless, the majority of the returned men can got along very well without help from the U.S.A., but for the sake of their less fortunate “cobbers” they, should retain active membership and interest, being more eager to give than to receive. Particularly .is this bond of union necessary in scantily populated districts such as Westland, and Coast men should take to' heart General Russell’s appeal for increased membership, and answer his call in a wholehearted ma Wr similar to the way they responded on the battlefront. Incidentally, Sir Andrew’s explanation of Iris Ashburton comments in regard to “beer and billiards” proves that he had no intention of reflecting adversely on his Coast experiences. The annual report of the Grey branch suggests that what failure has been encountered locally was due to the members themselves 'and

not to Government officials nor the general public. The debt to the returned .men has been freely acknowledged, and every effort has been made to give them a fair deal. Nor is the account considered io be now balanced, and any further aid that the Government and public can give will be cheerfully forthcoming. The public will have an opportunity about Anzac Day to prove their sustained interest in the ex-soldiers welfare by supporting the Poppy Day Fund and the Anzac Ball as much, us possible. But the real lite of the U.S.A, and the maintained welfare of all the men who came back from active service must come from within, and if the Grey U.S.A., or any other branch, should meet with a premature end, the verdict must be one of suicide. We trust this tragedy will be averted, and that the efforts of the new executive of the Grey branch will be so successful that the next annual report will be of a much more cheerful nature than the one wo published yesterday.