SOLDIERS’ CLUBS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9607, 13 March 1917, Page 7

SOLDIERS’ CLUBS

HON G. FOWLDS’S CRITICISM

MANAGER OF WELLINGTON CLUB GIVES HIS VIEWS.

In the course of a contribution to a discussion on the position cf churches after the war at the annual meeting of the Congregational Union, the Hon. George Fowlds referred to soldiers’ clubs in a derogatory fashion ,as reported in the “Times” of Saturday. Speaking to a “Times” reporter, the manager of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Club, Mr J. H. Fox, referred to the remarks of Mr Fowlds in somewhat strong terms. He said; “The success of every institution depends on its management. The ideals behind the institution, fully stated, ought to bo sufficient to show whether it is pursuing a policy of right or wrong. Only those who are in constant touch with the returned soldier, and the institutions organised to help him, can say definitely whether the ideals are right or wrong. The statements made by Mi' Fowlds seem to indicate that his information is unreliable and his strictures unwarranted. It is rather, astonishing that he should come to the conclusion that something ought to he done for returned soldiers in the way of what he calls ‘desoldierising’ them. Either Mr Fowlds has not taken sufficient interest in the happenings of the last 18 months, or he has been misled about daily events. It is true that no organisation or institute has done anything for the returned soldier so far as bringing him back to ordinary citizenship is concerned, apart from what has been done by returned soldiers themselves. Associations have been established all over New Zealand, having for their objects the bringing back of returned soldiers to civil life. Clubs have been established for the purpose of getting the returned soldiers together, so that they can meet their friends who are already at their former occupations, thus getting them once more out of the military atmosphere into the civilian element. “When the hen. gentleman expresses the opinion that- such organisations would be controlled by those not having the highest ideals he oversteps the mark. Let .him come into contact with the returned men who are to-day controlling the organisation and the clubs, and ho will find that those men are men not only with great ideals, but men with a purpose in view. That the problem of the returned soldier is intricate, and will become more so, stands to reason, but the difficulty will not be solved by Mr Fowlds or any body else, with no knowledge of tho returned soldier, individually or otherwise. Those who were good enough to face odds at Gallipoli, the Somme, and Armentieres will be good enough to evolve a scheme for their own betterment. The country which called them to defend its status may rest assured that those who have returned from the heat of battle will ha just as good citizens as they were good fighters. As one who has managed one of the largest clubs for returned men in New Zealand since I arrived hack from Gallipoli, I would extinct to Air Fowlds and the members of his Church an invitation to make themselves acquainted with our work and I guatantee that he will find that amongst all the hundreds of men who are members, only a small fraction is out of work, and only those who are still convalescent, ” ‘

‘ The following resolution has been passed by the executive committee of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association: —“That this committee strongly protests against the statement made by the Hon. George Fowlds at the Congregational Union, re Returned Soldiers’ Clubs and returned soldiers’ organisations, and is of opinion that if the Hon. George Fowlds had been conversant with the work and objects of these clubs and organisations he would not have seen fit to make such statements.”