PARENTS OF SOLDIERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16010, 31 August 1915, Page 4

PARENTS OF SOLDIERS.

FORMATION OF LEAGUE. PROUD OF THEIR SONS. OPPOSITION UNSUCCESSFUL. Upwards of 50 mothers and fathers of New Zealand soldiers alter a meeting last night at St. Matthew's Hall, Hobson Street, called to consider a proposition to form a league. .Mr. John Potter presided.

The chairman referred to the b. ive ! deeds performed by the New Ze aland : .1! Uallipoli. It was due to ihem that their parents should combine to do what j they could for them in the future. The] promoters of the movement had no idea j of starting a fund in opposition to the ! Patriotic rtind. At the same time ho ; thought the parents might lie given re- I presentation on that fund. Their whole : desire was to ensure for their «'iis every tare and attention when they .rune bark. .Mr. (I. J. Howes, convener it the meet- | ing, said the idea of a league of parents having sons at the front occurred to hnn sum" months ago. He thought it would l>e a good thing if the parents wore a badge in the form of a Maltese cross. The idea in his mind was tJiat such .1:1 organisation as was proposed might not only look after the interests of the NewZealand soldieis, but of their wives and dependefits. Like the chairman he declared the league would not be in opposition to tiny existing organisation, but only an auxiliary. He suggested that when a sufficient membership had enrolled rooms bo taken for the purposes of a social meeting place for parents and as an information bureau. There were disabilities under which the New Zealand troops suffered, and these their parents. if united, could do much to remedy. Also the league mi.oit act as intermediaries between 'lie Go\ eminent or the patriotic organisations, a: ' the recipients of relief. Their chief concern, however, would l>e for the returning soldiers. All the best places in the State should be given to them. Nothing could be too g<«*l for those men. STVjial efforts should \>e 1:1 ide in th-» io-ction of educating their children. He t. ived, "That this meeting of parents 01 .-o.tr.T? at the front form themselves !• '. • ,u .ssociatit.n to be called the Empire , ;'.-• its' Parents' League." The motion w.>s seconded.

Clashing Interests Suggested. Mr. A. O. Limn, a member of the Patriotic and War Relief Association, .-aid that if another league w<-re formed it would be an ill thing for the former. It would mean duplication and extra cost. The funds of the association were being wisely distributed. He instanced < ases of what had been done by the Relief Committee. The Government was going to give liberal pensions, but the association recognised that thev would not be enough, and hud resolved to try and raise £250.000. not only for relief purposes, but also for the provision of comforts. It would not be possible to do all that was desirable with two or three organisations. There must be concentration of efforts. There was no need for an intermediary organisation, such as proposed. Already the association had set up committees to get into touch with and investigate the affairs of everv man who returned.

It would be far better, Mr. Lunn suggested, if the mover of the resolution were to place his organising ability at the disposal of the association, rather than set up another organisation with kindred objects, which might sap the energies of the existing body. As to the proposed meeting-rooms, there was a soldiers' club in the city, in the work of which every parent could assist.

Eights of Fathers and Mothers. The chairman thought the parents were entitled to form the proposed league. They could perform work helpful to the Patriotic A.-s-x-iation in the direction of investigating claims. No one would look after the in"a better than their own parents. The interest of patriotic people in Auckland in them would lapse after a number of years. Parents should not be prevented from forming this league. Mr. Howes also contended that the parents had a right to form a league if they liked. He could not understand Mr. Lunn's attitude. In what way could a parents' league interfere with the Patriotic Association ? There was no intention of raising funds. Parents were the only important people. The members of the Patriotic Association did not count, except inasmuch as they were parents. " We and our boys are the only ones that count." he said. "We are the parents of the bravest men in New Zealand. Nobodyelse coants." Preliminary Steps Taken. Mr. Lunn wished to reply to Mr. Howes, but the chairman decided to put the resolution, and did so. It was carried, Mr. Lunn's being the only dissentient vote. The chairman then moved that a committee be set up to draft rules and report to another meeting, to be called. This was carried, and the following were appointed to the committee: —Messrs. John Potter, Clark, Skinner, Howes, Piggott, Hampshire, Sertreant-Major Pricker. Mesdames Frieker, Turner, Murray, Holland, and Howes.

Before the meeting closed, Mr. Neville Newoomb voiced an appeal for certain articles wanted for the equipment of the Soldiers' Club.