RETURNED SOLDIERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21968, 27 November 1934, Page 13

RETURNED SOLDIERS

MEETING AT ONEHUNGA NEED FOR CO-OPERATION The need for., closer co-operation among ex-servicemen was stressed by several speakers at a representative gathering in the Onehunga and District Returned Soldiers' Association's clubroo'm. The meeting was of a semi-social nature, and the vice-president of the association, Mr. F. Warrington, who presided, -explained that his executive hoped other branches would follow suit and hold gatherings where the various difficulties of ex-servicemen could be discussed.

Alluding to the work of the special Parliamentary Defence Committee, of which he is a member, Mr. W. .T. Jordan, M.P., mentioned many of the disabilities in regard to pensions and other matters under which returned soldiers Averc labouring. He stressed the need of more co-operation. Mr. B. Lyons, of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association, in reviewing some of the activities and difficulties of his branch, remarked on the apathy shown by the vast majority of returned men, particularly those who were in positions where their influence and social position would be of material benefit to others. Although there were 16,000 returned soldiers in Auckland, the membership of the various branches was only approximately 2000. . Speakers representing the Royal Navy, and the Eden and Roskill, Newand Otahuhu Associations, commended the step taken by Onehunga. ' ■ ' A musical programme was contributed by the following artists:—The Manukau Quartette (Messrs. H. CI egg, P. Guppy, E. Winchcombe and R., But-' terworth), and Messrs. J. Ross, H. Page, A. Turner, J. J. Wells and Captain R. Gibbons. Mr. H. Clegg was pianist.