EX-SERVICEMEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 20 June 1936, Page 7

EX-SERVICEMEN

PROVIDING WORK FOR THE DISABLED RE-ESTABLISHiyiENT LEAGUE The work of the Soldiers’ Civil Reestablishment League and proposals for alterations in its constitution were discussed on Thursday when the annual meeting of the league was held, a large number of members who were in Wellington for the annual conference of the N.Z.R.S.A. attending. The chairman of the league (Major J. R. Kirk) presided. After expressing appreciation of the large attendance, Major Kirk reviewed the activities of the league during the year and said there was still room for the establishment of returned soldiers in trade. As far as skilled craftsmen were concerned there were no longer any on the league's books, as they had Ml been placed during the year. In conclusion, Major Kirk said he understood the N.Z.R.S.A. had adopted certain recommendations for alterations to the constitution of the league, and he wanted to say right away that the league would accept those recommendations. Both the league and the association were working for the returned soldiers, and they should .work together. The Dominion president of the Returned Soldiers’ Association (the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C.) reviewed the establishment of the league, and said that as anomalies existed in its constitution the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association had considered the whole position and had adopted a number of recommendations. He was glad to hear Major Kirk state that those recommendations would be accepted by the league. He moved the adoption of the recommendations. WORK APPRECIATED

The Dominion vice-president of the R.S.A. (Mr B. J. Jacobs) seconded the motion and paid a tribute to the work of members of the league. He thanked members of the league for meeting the N.Z.R.S.A. The association appreciated all that had been done, and members expressed their, grateful thanks. The recommendations had been brought forward in the friendliest spirit, and not in a spirit of criticism. The association did not want to usurp the authority of the league, but to give all the assistance it could to help the work of the league onwards. Mr H. L. Paterson (Dunedin) referred to the valuable co-operation that had been received from many bodies, and said that without that cooperation much of the work already done could not have been accomplished. The recommendations were adopted unanimously. Mr Jacobs then suggested that both the league and the R.S.A. should appoint sub-committees to confer on the recommendations and revise the rules of the league. After a brief discussion a joint committee, consisting of Messrs B. J. Jacobs, G. E. Sadd and J. Tucker, was appointed to represent the two bodies. Mr Perry moved that the league should approach the Government and asked for preference for goods manufactured by ex-servicemen, and this was adopted. Remits asking the Government to provide small farm areas, free technical training, and additional work as part-time postmen for returned soldiers were carried, reference being made to what had already been done bv the postal authorities for returned men.

A remit requesting returned soldiers’ associations throughout New Zealand to organise annual displays of goods manufactured by returned soldiers was carried. Reference was made to the assistance given to the Dunedin branch of the league by the Hon. F. Jones, and a motion congratulating him on his appointment to the position of Minister of Defence and War Pensions was carried unanimously.