RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

Nelson Evening Mail, 31 July 1916, Page 2

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

SPEECH IBV .MINISTER FOR DEFENCE.

A round' of applause greeted Colonel Allen when he rose to speak at the eon ference of Returned' -Soldiers' Association at Wellington the other day, says the 'Post. 'H/2 said, -he had always maintained that these soldiers' clubs were essential organisations to voice the opinions ni' the returned soldiers. It would be disastrous if the [Department only came into contact with the opinions that represe/sted only a few returned soldiers. Fully 90 per cent, of the men who went wSth the Expeditionary Forces were the best in New Zealand:, but ■there were a few who manufactured grievances,. TJu delegates at the conference as representing the returned soldiers would be able to assist these men and assist the Government in its -general dealings with returned soldiers and .those who might to get the better of it. The •Government did .not want to find itself "euchred." but wished to do all it could to assist the returned .men. He did' not think the country wanted! to spoil the returned men ; nor did he think the returned men wished to be spoiled:. (Hear, hear). It was desirous that they should bring back) the lessons theyi had learned in camp aind in the firing line- He hoped thev would hang 'to these virtues—discipline was a. virtue —and they would thus be able to do more for the Empire than by anything else he knew of. He welcomed returned soldiers' organisations, and) hoped thev would get into ■the hands of the thinking men. The returned! men probably realised more than those who behind the problem of the welfare of the Empire. The men who had heen through the .real ordeal could assist in the -solution of this great problem. _No man who had been with the Anzacs" could say that anything was impossible. Colonel Allen continued that he had read with pride that morning of the doings of the Anzaes. If that spirit existed it could' be transplanted to the lives of the citizens., and we would then be able to look forward with confidence to the future of New Zealand- and the British Empire. D'on't. for a moment let them think that, they had finished their work. Let them try to hang on to the lessons then had been- implanted into thtin outside of Now Zealand. Many of them had been nearer to death than they had been before, ayd had doubtless thought of the unknown future. His own firm faith -was that no nation could be great unless it had a deep religious stability, audi if they remembered' the lessons thev iiad learned he was perfert]v sine they would be better citizens Thev had' fearlessly faced death, and hehoped they would transplant that fearlessness into their lives as citizens.

After assuriiiff them that the Depart meirl' "vvas anxious to do Jill it could <<■» help them. Colons 3 ! *.!k» wnrned thc-m t- ctccr ■!■:»!• of politic? and poli-tician:—-(laughter)—and concluded by •-vbhin;- thorn every sttcceis. (Prolonged apphiu.-e).