RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18802, 3 March 1923, Page 17

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

EXECUTIVE MEETING. 4 meeting of the executive of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association was held on Thursday night, Mr J. M Orne occupying tho chair. ANZAC DAY SERVICES. The Rev. V. G. Bryan King wrote on behalf of the Bishop and Chapter of fct Paul’s Cathedral inviting representatives of the association to the special commemoration service to be held on the evening of Anzac Dav. —The invitation was accepted. The president tho Rev. H. Maclean, and the secretary (Mr A. C. Laing) were appointed a committee to wait on Major Dampen in connection with the proposed service in the Kensington Drill Hall on Anzac Day. GENERAL. Three new members were elected, and two transfers in, from 'Wellington, granted. .Four resignations wore received, and one referred book for re-consideration. It was suggested that a general re-umon of the Otago Regiment be held during Carnival Week. Members of the executive received the suggestion. with enthusiasm, and Messrs M'Hutcheon, M’Crae, and E. T. Anderson were appointed a sub-committee to make preliminary arrangements and to report to next meeting. UNEMPLOYED DISABLED MEN. The general secretary of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. Wellington, wrote to the secretary of the Otago branch stating that the problem of employing the disabled men seemed to be becoming larger and larger. Several cases existed locally, and headquarters had received a few from various associations. The writer asked Mr Laing to forward details regarding the war pensioners at present out of work. T-he letter concluded that the Wellington Association recently approached the Prime Minister (Mr Massey) upon this subject, and tie details were requested so that m forwarding the particulars to the Wellington office there would be less delay in preparing'representations." " ' _ The secretary of the Dunedin Association replied, inter alia, as follows:—“I can assure you that there are quite a number of disabled men out of employment in Dunedin. At the present time I could guarantee to find you, at the very least, a dozen seriously disabled men, who, on account of their disability, ore not able to find employment. I do, however, very strongly object to raising these men’s hopes every now and again by asking them to give me all sorts of particulars when there is no immediate prospect of a job forthcoming for them. Two or three times this association has opened an unemployment register with the idea of finding out how many men are out of work. The men come here, put their names down, call back in two or three days, aufi ask if there is any work, and keep on calling back until they get disgusted. If we had work to offer these men, I oan assure you that we oould find the men without any trouble, but, as stated before, we are only needlessly raising their hopes and making ourselves look foolish by asking for all sorts of particulars and doing nothing for them. Is there any possibility of anything eventuating out of the present move? If so, you can depend upon mo to do my utmost to comply with your requirements, as I recognise that the placing of the disabled men is one of the biggest problems which we have to contend with. Is it hoped to place all these men with tho Government, or is there going to be any attempt, to get private firms to realise thMr obligations?”—The secretary’s letter was approved.