RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17155, 7 November 1917, Page 8

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

A general meeting of members of tho Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association was held ' last evening, Captain Jones presiding. There were about two dozen members present. Following is ;; summary of the quarterly report submitted by the committee:—Tho membership of the association has. again shown a very satisfactory increase, thero now being 503 members, consisting of 469 active and 34 associate. Ten honorary members have also been admitted. Tho asociation is now in a position to deal much more satisfactorily with the complaints and grievances of returned men, and they are therefore urged to lay before the committee anything concerning their own and their comrades' -welfare. _ The association should be made the medium for forwarding to the Defenoo and other departments all matters concerning the welfare of returned soldiers, and tho committee hopes that returned men- will make uso of tho advantages thus made available to them. Strong representations have been 'inade to the Government urging that all increases in pensions and allowances for soldiers should be made retrospective, but to this an unsatisfactory reply has been received. Tho matter has, however, not been allowed to rest and headquarters has been urged to carry on a propaganda in furtherance of our demands. so that they will continue to bo brought before the Government until they are conceded. Tho committee wishes to draw the attention of members holding the original paper discharges to . the 'fact that, on forwarding them to Base Records, Wellington, parchment ones will be issued in their place. As there is so much misunderstanding regarding the matter, tho committee desires it to be distinctly known to tho public that there is no administrative or financial connection whatever between tho Returned Soldiers' Association and tho Arizao Club, and that the proceeds of tho raffle of the dolls' house now being conducted by tho Anzac Club will not in any way benefit the funds of tho association. Donations amounting to £55' have been received during* the past and tho oommittee -wishes to thank all who have contributed. . Tho Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said it was a matter for congratulation that thexe was such a number of men on tho roll. Thero were, however, quite a number of returned men not yet affiliated, and the only way to get them was by personal canvass. They wanted to get the men as they loft the troopship. Ho- thought that they might do something in. the direction of securing honorary members. He thought, further, that people in general, and tlie. business men in particular, would, if tho association was in any need, give it any assistance required. >He expressed Fno hope that pictures connected with the Main Body and the reinforcements, and of Gallipoli, would be obtained. They would bo of historic interest to the Association. He thought they might be got with a little scouting round.

The report was adopted. Dr M'Killqp wrote resigning his position as president, to pressure of business. The resignation was accepted, and it wag resolved that the meeting places on record its regret that, through pressure of private busihess, Dr M'Killop had found it necessary to resign his position as president of the association; and also expresses its appreoiation of the valuable services rendered by him' while occupying the position. Dr Harrison was appointed president, vice Dr M'Killop. . , _ . It was resolved to secure copies of teapper Moore's 'pictures. - , Mr Thorr)son introduced the question ot pensions and allowances being retrospective as far as men of the First Division were concerned. He pointed out that the Go~ vernment gave war bonuses to its servants, and had recently voted £500 to a gentleman retiring to practise privately. The association 3 had been trying to keep non-politi-cal, but the Government was forcing it to become that way. They should not let this matter drop, and he would move —" That this meeting of members of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association protests against the refusal of the Government to make the increases in pensions and allowances to soldiers retrospective, thereby placing on the services of those who went to the front in the early stages of the war. a lower value than on those who are now going; and demands that in common fairness to the returned soldiers and their dependents, all increases should be made tetrospectivo from the outbreak of the war." The motion was carried. A question was asked as to what steps had been taken in connection with the building scheme, to which the Secretary (Mr G. M. femith) replied that the Building Committee had met, and decided to wait upon Mr Patrick as to the association having representation on the Anzao House .Committee. No delegates had yet been appointed.—A member said _ what they wanted was a building of their own.—The Chairman said that at next meeting something tangible would be brought forward.