Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1937. R.S.A. COMES OF AGE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 127, 30 April 1937, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1937. R.S.A. COMES OF AGE.

A notabtjj record of service to former soldiers and sailors is possessed by the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, which marks the twenty-first anniversary of its formation this week, and which to-day proudly possesses a membership of no less than 30,QU0 men in its 30 branches. In this achievement of service and strength Palmerston North and district residents have no little degree of interest, for in this city and the surrounding towns there exist very healthy branches and, indeed, in the village of Halcombe, not so far distant that it lias no community of interest with us, the branch justifiably boasts 100 per cent, membership of those eligible within its boundaries. Since its formation on April 28, 1910, the association has passed through periods of progress and anxiety; the calls on its organisation have been many and multifarious. Many a lame dog has been helped over the stile by a sympathetic understanding and everready desire to do the best possible, within the limits of its resources, for every returned man who has needed help. There was a time when interest in the association seemed to flag. _ Put re newed vigour came to it and so well strengthened was it in the most acute * years of economic stress that thousands of men were aided. Many were out of work; some could not carry on manual labour; others became worn out —the aftermath of the stress of war service. By a judicious policy in administering the funds made available to it from Poppy Bay sales _ and other sources the association carried out an amazingly successful selfimposed task and many a home was brightened by the actions of an organisation which showed that, whatever the stress of circumstances, it would not allow the public to forget what it owed these men. Earlier the association had given close attention to pensions anomalies and the like. The depression caused it to seek avenues of employment for those out of work and thousands were placed in employment on It.S.A. subsidies through local bodies and private employers. Working in close co-operation with Patriotic Societies and similar organisations the association built up a monument of good deeds that will ever be remembered by those who came into close contact with its work. Subsequently, the case of the wornout ex-serviceman claimed its attention and it had much to do with the legislation that is now on the Statute Book providing for such cases. Happily . the association has at all times eschewed politics, and the steps it has taken to enlist the syin-

patliy of all shades of political opinion have met with marked success. In its leaders the association has been, and is being, well served, . and in its general secretary it possesses a most able officer. While none will desire a recurrence of the tasks that have tested the association in the past, all will agree that should the occasion arise again the association will not be found wanting-