THE RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17658, 23 June 1919, Page 2

THE RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

TO THB EDITOR. Sir,—As a member of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association since its inception, I feel I cannot allow the explanation offered by Mr Howard Elliot in his Woodville speech to go unchallenged. It appears to me that Mr Elliott is doing his best to cause a disruption among the members of the R.S.A. I will give Mr Elliott a little information about th® association, and he will do well to ponder over it In the first place we, in, our various associations, put a man into a committee or engage him as an ofiwial, not because he is a Catholic or Protestant, but becauas he is the best man available for tho position. We , are absolutely non-sectarian, and as long- as a man is a man, and conducts himself as a man, then be he Catholic or Protestant, or whatever his religion may be, hs is treated as a brother, and our efforte to help him along are there for tho asking. "Each for all, and all for each" is our motto, which shows, I submit, a deeper Christian principle. If Mr Elliott would use as much energy in teaching Christianity as he appears to use in causing strifo -with the Catholics, the world -would be a bettor woi-ld, and his name would be much more revered than it is. If he is wise he will leave the R.S.A. alone, I may say I am not a Catholio, but though I cap not see eye , to eye with Catholics in their religious views, still I have many good friends among them. I am -writing this absolutely as a member of the R.S.A., and not officially as a membsr of the executive or with authority from any of the R.S.A. cWbs. I a™, etc, Thohas Mtt.t.fr Mosgiel, June 20. [Wo have omitted from tho above letter some stateirrenta which are obviously based on a mis-roport.—Ed. O.D.T.]