R.S.A. AND POLITICS

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 December 1944, Page 2

R.S.A. AND POLITICS

MR. O’BRIEN’S REPLY.

The Secretary of the Hokitika Returned Services’ Association has received the following reply from Mr. O’Brien:— . J J , “Your letter of the sth instant to hand. I am sorry to know that your executive ‘is indignant at the inference’ in my telegram that your resolution was inspired, but outside pt the fact that my reply dealt with conscientious objectors, while your telegram dealt with defaulters, the main question is whether your telegram was inspired from some P°hf 1_ cal organisation. You are-probably aware that one of the principal attacks launched against the Government by the Nationalist Party m Parliament for years past has been the question of defaulters’ and conscientious objectors’ camps, and now some one has conceived the idea that the attack would be more effective if every branch of the Returned Services’ Association in New Zealand would carry resolutions condemning the Government and use the Returned Services’ Association organisation to arouse public feeling, against it, in every town in New Zealand. That that has been done is obvious to any disinterested person. . “You may make a claim that the Returned Services’ Association is a ‘non-political body,’ but must admit that an ex-president of an important branch of that organisation was at one time president of the Nationalist Party and was responsible for the celebrated statement: ‘Our hospitals, our schools, our pensions, our public works, and all the otherliabilities we carry.’ “Mr. K. M. Bolton, Chairman of the Rehabilitation Committee of the New South Wales branch of the Australian Returned Soldiers’ League, stated that New Zealand had the finest rehabilitation, scheme in the world, but I cannot remember a resolution complimenting the Government for what it has done in that direction from the Returned Services’ Association; but Mr. Postlewaite, President of the Auckland branch, and Mr. Mason, Secretary, took Mr. Bolton to task for such a statement.

“I could quote instances of criticism of the Government by officials of the Returned Services’ Association, who also take to themselves the credit for everything worthwhile. We members of the Government think only the best is good enough for our returned men, and although some are ready to condemn the Government from every angle, we would gladly compare what we are doing with what was done for the soldiers returning from the last war. “Perhaps it would not be out of place to remind you that when land was purchased for the soldiers then five times its real value was paid in some instances to Tory landowners. Over £20,000,000 was paid for land for soldier settlement, £12,000,000 of which amount was written off, as were most of the soldier settlers themselves —that in addition to men being in slave camps at 10/- a week. Single men had to live on 9/- a week dole. I knew one man* who had won a decoration who had to do this. We might at the same time remember that the returned soldiers had their pensions cut up to 30 per cent. I would ask you now if men who supported a Government that did these things to returned men should be allowed to put their political propa- ■ ganda through the Returned . Services’ Association. Perhaps this letter will give them another opportunity. If you hand it to the Press, for v/hich you have my permission, perhaps, on the other hand, it will have the effect of stopping political parties from using the Returned Services’ Association organisation for pernicious propaganda.” Officials of the Hokitika Returned Services’ Association state that precisely the same attitude would have been taken up, irrespective of what Government was in office, and that party politics have not, ancj will not, enter into any matters considered by the Association. CH.CH. RESOLUTION CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 15. The policy of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association on the treatment of military defaulters was -endorsed at a special general meeting of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association this evening. On the motion of the president (Mr. D. W. Russell) the following resolution was carried by a substantial majority: ‘This general meeting of members of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association, being returned servicemen of World War, I. and World War 11. emphatically protests against any suggestion of releasing military defaulters from detention until all servicemen and women have been returned to New Zealand after the cassation of hostilities, and have had an opportunity of being rehabilitated, believing that men and women who have served their country, have a prior right to reasonable domestic and financial security before men who have not seen fit to serve their country in its hour of need are allowed to compete for positions and homes. “Further, this meeting reiterates and supports the policy of the N.Z. R.S.A. that no military defaulters should have civil rights for 10 years, nor should they be eligible for any Government position .where taxpayers’ money is being used to pay their salaries, and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) and to local members of Parliament.”