GOVERNMENT AND R.S.A.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21753, 30 June 1945, Page 6

GOVERNMENT AND R.S.A.

S|r, —I. as a returned man of this war, wish to ask a few questions of the R.S.A. In regard to its present uncalled for" attitude towards the Government. It' is quite evident to most of us that the defaulter issue jfV'a red'herring. What then is its ultimate aim V Why castigate a Government to whom it can reasonably be said it owes its very existence as a financial organisation? Where was this loud voice during the depression years when the returned man of the last war was kicked around and Ire Hod as dirt?’ Much is-said of G.O.’s not doing productive work. Well; it is not long ago when returned men chipped weeds. The R.S.A. leaders speak of fight. This is absurd. Whore whs their fight at the time when, even if 'a returned man had a few shillings to be a member, lie was ashamed to wear his badge and so advertise to his younger fellow workers that spent years fighting for the very Government that allowed the dreadful eonditions of that time ! to continue? The R.'-S/A; leaders very smugly' tnke' upon themselves the credit of having the mufti allowance- increased to £25, of getting the Government to increase the war pensions, and now a share of Credit of the very handsome gratuity t 6 be paid. Do they’think for : one motoent that such claimed victories could have-been possible under the lost Government ? All I can say. in conclusion, is that it is gratifying to know that the- R.S.A. is like all other organisations of its 'kind, i.hi, that its voice is only the opinion ‘‘ofPa majority Of that small minority who actually attend meetings, and not the opinion of ;us all.— REG. No. 72527. ’ j '

[The correspondent may not'-have a very clear memmory of 1 the efforts' which the R.S.A. made in Gisbor.he.'.and'.ell&tyhere'to lighten- the' oniy for its own members‘but'for returned Men in general; His suggestion that returned men were kicked around and treated as dirt is quite without foundation, although returned men bore their share of the economic effects with the' rest Of a community'Which knew as little as the Government' of'the day about the causes and 'treatment of slumps. The renewal of the R.S.A.'s Strength throughout the Dominion 'in the late 1920’s was inspired by the ■ knotvledkfe that unfortunate hut deserving comrades Were in need of help. The correspondent assumes political bias on the part i'ofvthe R.S.A. in dealing with such questions as defaulters’ release. It- is : significant that thought the association has differed from this Government, as with the last, on matters of policy no Cabinet piembel- has ever accused it of political bias. On the contrary, this and other Governments have welcomed the aid of the association in defining the rights of the men for whose benefit and Views it continues to fight.—Ed„ Herald-]