PUTARURU R.S.A.

Matamata Record, Volume XVI, Issue 1446, 31 July 1933, Page 5

PUTARURU R.S.A.

APPEAL FOR MEMBERS.

Extracts from Reunion Speeches

The fact that there were already over 60 financial members of the newly-formed Putaruru R.S.A. was announced by Mr; R. W. Cook, amidst loud applause, during his speech in reply to the toast of the R.S.A. at the reunion of ex-service-men on Thursday. Six Thousand New Members.

Mr. Cook referred to the wonderful increase in membership throughout New Zealand last year, when over 6000 new members joined up, and pointed out that the reason for this revival of interest was because Diggers were now relying on their own organisations to fight their battles. Those who had not yet joined up should not take up a selfish attitude, but should think of their less fortunate comrades, the widows and the maimed. Mental Disabilities. Many returned soldiers were suffering mental disabilities as a result of the war, and he was certain that many offences.,which were at times committed wopld never have been committed had those responsible been in their normal mind. In such cases he ignored the. findings of doctors or mental specialists, and enquired to see if the offender was a returned soldier or not. If he was a returned man that was enough for him. It had also to be remembered that returned men were competing alongside men who had never been through such terrible experiences J and many of such needed assistance j to-day. j

Power in the Land.

If all returned men stood together they would soon become a power in the land. The Government had done much, but not sufficient, and but for the New Zealand R.S.A. pensions would have been cut by a much bigger sum than that taken away. 5 He was not a paid secretary, he loved the work, and he asked all who had not yet joined up to send along their five “ bob,” even if it meant cutting out their beer or smokes for a while. He asked them to do the decent thing and remember their old pals in less fortunate circumstances than themselves. {Loud applause.) All Stand Together. in similar strain, Mr. Owen Jones .appealed to all to stand together. Reunions were organised to recapture the old-time spirit of comradeship, and they should never forget those who sacrificed home and life to make the world a better place to live in. If they forgot those who were living in distress they would be betraying the trust of those who had given their lives in foreign fields. United Voice. Colonel E. G. Fraser, in a vigorous speech, added his weight to the appeal. After the South African War the leaders had forsaken their men, with the result that many veterans got little or no reward from their country. Learning from that experience, after the past Great War they had not forsaken their men, but were doing their best to obtain justice for them. It was easy to break one stick, but not a lot of sticks, and he urged all present to join up to help the association speak with a voice which must be heard. 'The Canteen Funds. Later speakers pointed out that big efforts had been made to induce the trustees of the Canteen Funds to spend a greater amount annually than had been spent in the past. It was not eating into the capital, as some had stated, for the original ■ capital was only £143,000. The pre- , sent total of the fund was over £IB,OOO, so it was only accumulated interest which was being spent. If the money was not distributed quicker, returned men would all be dead before the fund was exhausted. Those present were also urged to wear their badges.