N.Z RETURNED SOLDIERS ASSOCIATION.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 349, 7 February 1917, Page 7

N.Z RETURNED SOLDIERS ASSOCIATION.

ITO THS EDITOR.! Sir, —The work of the Xew Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association has two aspects: one from the pome of view of citizens of New Zealand, the other from that of the returned soldier.

It must be understood that, the association is organising a national movement, with very serious objects and it is not formed mereli" with a view to securing club comforts for its members. We still have fresh in our minds the South .African war and we know that after that war iiuinhpri of men were never able to properly settle down to civil life. In this war, where the whole of New Zealand's young manhood is involved. a grave danger is apparent to all. Dm returned soldiers have realised rhe impending tiouble ami have set themselves the task of averting it. One of the greatest, factors in achieving this part of the work is a Returned Soldiers’ Chib. The great nervous strain through which a. soldier passes cannot but have its effect upon him A returned soldier with any length of service is out of touch witb. civil life, and his feelings on being discharged from the army "no further use.’’ can be better imagined than described.

In the Returned Soldiers Club he meets men who have all the attributes of citizr nship and have with him the common bond of active service. The value of this re-union as club members cannot be too strongly emphasised and the returned soldier who has settled down to. work again is thus a factor in malting it easier for those who come after. Clubs controlled by the association are rot permitted to become loafing grounds. Men are encouraged to work and work is found for them. Tints it will be seen that the assoi iation regards these clubs onlv as a means to an end, and that encl is one of vital importance to fhe < oi ntry. The first step is the establishment of Returned Soldiers (..lulls in every part of the Dominion Dm returned soldiers themselves aie subscribing to a great national work.

From the point of view- of the returned soldier .the association appears as a strong bodv composed mt: re]v of his own comrades, to which he can turn wherever he may he. No soldier manned or broken need fear that his sacrifice will be forgotten, since in time of necu everv one of his comrades will stand ar the back of him. Nor will the widows or deoendents of those who '■■■■■■•> fallen he forgotten : they will never anneal m vain to the Ret.ume 1 S d is c at on —I am. ere. C. W. BATTEN. General Secretary. Wellington. Feb. 5. 1917.