R.S.A.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18574, 29 November 1920, Page 6

R.S.A.

DOMINION EXECUTIVE MEETS. rPsii Pbssb Association.] WELLINGTON, November ,28. A complaint that misleading information wafi issued in the Old Country to ex-Imperial' soldiers _ contemplating immigration to the Dominion was made at a meeting of. the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers Association. It was decided that steps should be taken to ascertain the conditions yet forth to intending immigrants, particularly as regards housing and employment, also what action the High'Commissioner's office has taken to see that intending immigrants under the Overseas Settlement Committee's scheme get accurate information re* garding New Zealand conditions. Matters regarding pensions were also diaoussed by the meeting and strong proteat was voiced against tIM inadequate amount of £50,000 granted by Parliament in the dying hours of last BGSSIOTt • On the motion of Mr T. E. Y- Seddon, M.P., it was decided that a petition setting out the grounds for increasing military pensions should be drawn up and that local associations should be requested to have the petition signed generally in every district, and that every member of Parliament should be requested to present the petition from his electorate, with a view to giving publicity to the requests contained in the petition. It was also resolved that local associations should be asked to organise deputations to Miuiatersi when visiting different centres between now and the opening of Parliament.

SPEECH BY GOVERNOR-GENERAL [Pew Peeks association.] WELLINGTON, November 38. The Governor-General was the guest of Dr Ernest Boxer, president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, at a dinner at the Midland Hotel on Saturday night. Members of the Dominion executive of the N.Z.R.S.A. were also guests. Speeches by hia Excellency and members of the executive indicated the very important work which returned soldiers could do tasks of national reconstruction. ■ In proposing the toast of ' His Excellency the Governor-General" Dr Boxer said that the .name of JelHcoe would live 011 in the annals of Britain as one worthy of association with .the names of Drake, Frobisher, Nelson, Howe, Colling Wood, and other great men of the sea. (Applause). On the confines of the far flung Empire, with potential enemies within striking distance, the people of New Zealand were necessarily concerned with naval preparedness. If people here did their part in maintaining the spirit and strength of the navy their peace and prosperity woUldHje assured. Lord Jellicoe, in reply, said he was proud to wear the badge of honorary membership of the New Zealand % Returned Soldiers' Association. He praised the great services of New Zea~ fanders in tne military, naval and air forces. He felt it was a great honour to belong to the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, because he felt it was out to do good, not only for returned soldiers, but for the whole of this splendid Dominion. An association composed of men who at the. call of the Empire sprang to the assistance of the Empire and, therefore, represented* all that waa best in the Dominion's manhood was hound to be a great power in the land. He felt confident that this power would be exerted for the benefit of the country as a whole, and future historians would record that of the splendid soldiers who represented New Zealand in the Great War those who returned to their country beoame splendid civilian members of society and that they had done a very great part in forwarding the prosperity of this great Dominion, to which he looked forward with very great ,cqnfidence. (Applause.) " The New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association" was' proposed by Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell, M.P. He said that the men who were firet tack from the war had done the foundational work" well, by their efforts for the fflck and needy and by framing a policy for the future. He felt sure that this pioneering work had been a great help to the Government. If a muted association had not been formed the result would have been the establishment of a variety of organisations, and progress would have been retarded. Most of the" men had now settled down, hut a useful future remained for the assocda-r tion in fighting for the fair treatment of pensioners and for other important activities. For ay country like New Zealand the future should be bright, but only by industry, only by hard work could New Zealanders assure the prosperity won by so much blood and treasure during the Avar. If the people would only concentrate on the development of the country with as much .energy as they had put into the var there would be a very wonderful record of progress during the next five years. If this concentration was done he had every confidence that, with the Grace of God, New Zealand would uphold the name and prestige of the British Empire. (Applause). The words which his Excellency had ppoken for the men of the New Zealanl Expeditionary Force applied as well to men of all parts of the British Empire. These were as brave men as God ever made. (Applause). Replying for the association, Mr C. W. Batten (Hon Treasurer), who was one of its founders and first general secretary, said that returned soldiers, who formed about thirty per cent of the Dominion's virile manhood, were necessarily destined to have an important part in_ shading New Zealand's future- He believed that New Zealand had done moTe than anv other country for returned soldiers. Thev appreciated what had been done, ancf hoped they would, have no cause for complaint in the future. Mr P. H. Watts (Auckland Vicepresident) and Mr W. E. Leadlev (Christchurch Secretary) also responded.