RETURNED SOLDIERS ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18468, 1 February 1922, Page 9

RETURNED SOLDIERS ASSOCIATION.

MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING,

The monthly general meeting of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association, held on Monday night, was attended by a bare quorum. Mr R. Jones presided. The report submitted by the Executive Committee was as follows:-* . Membership.—During tho period just ended tho membership has been increased bv the election of six new members—three active and three honorary. One member has been received on transfer, and 13 members have been transferred to other associations. The financial membership of the association at the end of December stood at 2645. A number of members are stm outstanding with their. subscriptions, and the executive has appointed a collector to •wait upon these. Unemployment, of course, is responsible for the non-payment in qui e a number of cases, and tho executive wou d like it made known that in all cases where men find themselves unable to pay tneir subscriptions the secretary would be pleased to receive advice from them to this cnoct. This would help to bring about a better understanding with our members. Deaths. Wo regrot having to chronicle the deatn of two of our members—Leonard M Neil and A. C. Lethaby. To their relatives the executive has extended the sympathy of the members of tho association. Public trust Department: The executive is pleased to be able to advise that one returned soldier dismissed from the local Public 1 rust Department has already, been reinstated in tho service, and the reinstatement ot tno other member is expected to take place m the course of a few days." Stoppage ot Loans: Tho position in this matter is assuming a more hopeful tenor, and it is hoped that the Government will see tit to resume advances at an early date. Unemployment: The executive fears that unemployment is going to be even worse tma coming winter than it was last year. Ihe position is not at all improved by the constant influx of immigrants into the dor minion. The ■ executive wishes to probe tins matter to the Jrottom, and to do all in its power to a&i&t members who are out of employment to find employment suitable to them. A register has been opened at tho office, and all returned soldiers out of work are requested to place their names thereon. Club: Entries for the 1922 billiard championship arc now being invited. The championship carries with it the holding of the “Edward Cameron Chip for the ensuing 12 months. The Clubhouse Cotjv mittec is considering the formation ot. a collection of war trophies which, if installed. should add considerably to the attractiveness of the club. The committee will be pleased to hear from any members who have trophies which they would be willing to donate or loan to the club for this purpose. Cash Purchase Society: Ine committee has pleasure in recording that the membership of the Cash Purchase Society now stands at approximately 9W. and it is hoped that the thousand mark will be reached before the end of the year. This scheme offers a practical return to members and as it is becoming more widely known, is being taken advantage of in an accordingly increased manner. Speaking generally with reference to the report, the Chairman said, that financially the association was able., with the. prospects before it, to carry on with a certain amount of case. This time last year the committee was contemplating the possibility of. having t-. <r o outside to get money. This year the committee felt that it could go forward with the finance to carry on. There was nothing to grumble about and nothing to worry them particularly. The. stoppage of loans had been agitating the minds of members for some time past, and the executive had sought to bring about some improvement. Up to last week nothing had been done, but fortunately they had now received a telegram from the general secretary that the position was much better, and ho thought it could safely be said that men in financial trouble were going to have their loans advanced, to them. The . social activities of the association would be in full awing shortly. The Debating Club was about to resume, and other activities would be open. The committee desired to make the club a sort of home away fr6m home for every returned soldier. It was not a single man’s club, and it was desired that more of tho married men should attend the meetings and help the club along. The renort wa a adopted. Speaking with regard to unemployment, the Chairman said that the matter, had been ■ placed in the hands of a committee, which had made full inquiry regarding the position. There were at present on the register at the club the names of 63 returned soldiers who wefe " out of employment, and he thought it quite fair to estimate that with the names registered elsewhere there were at least from 100 to 150 out of work in Dunedin. The first thing the committee noted was that in face of this position the last monthly return showed that 3000 immigrants had arrived in the dominion, and they had positions guaranteed to them. It struck the com-* mlttee harshly that the men upholding the position of New Zealand by going to the war should now occupy second place. The immigration policy was a policy of the present Government. He would say nothing further about that than that the present Government was behind the farmer, and incidentally behind the capitalist. According to statements in Parliament, it appeared that there were 1500 immigrants on the water, and 15,000 were expected to arrive within the next few months. Wha*. they were going to do “God only knew.” If the immigrants could be brought out safely all honour to the Government, but only the greatest exception could be taken to their being brought oiit under false pretences. Considering the whole unemployment question, the committee thought that pressure should be brought to bear on the Government to utilise available moneys to carry on works and to assist local bodies and other organisations to do so. It was also thought that some use might he made of the Canteen Fund, by way of loan, to forward this end. Mr M'Crae’ had suggested that the members of ihe association might make a weekly donation to help their fellow-soldiers who were out of work, and he thought the suggestion one that should find commendation, and support. It was nothing short of a crime that returned soldiers should be forced into the position many were ; n to-day.. In conclusion, Mr Jones , said that from its investigations the committee could safely that not 1 per cent,.of the soldiers out of work had lost their positions through drink. The whole matter was discussed generally. and eventually a motion was passed supporting the executive in the action it was taking in regard to unemployment. The next meeting was fixed for February 27.