RETURNED SOLDIERS' NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22629, 22 July 1935, Page 2

RETURNED SOLDIERS' NEWS

Contributed. Correspondents should forward any matters of interest to ex-servicemen to the secretary, U.S.A., Dunedin. MEMBERSHIP. Our financial membership continues to grow very rapidly, and we are at the present time 351 ahead of Christchurch. Our figures to date are: 1689 financial members, a record for three and a-half months of the new financial year. Our objective is 3000, and we are optimistic that this number will be obtained by March 31 next. * CLINTON BALL. A very successful ball was held at Clinton last Wednesday, under the auspices of the Clinton Returned Soldiers' Committtee, directed by the chairman (Mr, Corcoran), in conjunction with the Benedicts' Club. A rcord number of couples " tripped the lisit fantastic" until the "wee sma' hours," and everything went with a swing. The hall was tastefully decorated with coloured streamers, etc., and those in charge of the arrangements are to be congratulated on the result of their efforts to make this function a success.

The Dunedin Association was repre- , sented by the secretary (Mr Q. L. Ferens), who, during an interval, spoke to an appreciative and audi- , ence on association matters generally, and, by special request, summed up briefly the method of expending Poppy Day moneys, the relief given generally to ex-soldiers in the country districts, and the manner in which distress cases are handled by the association. Brigadier-general A. E. Stewart spoke briefly on the distribution of the canteen funds, etc. FLOCK HOUSE. Inquiries from various districts for Flock House trainees at present exceed the number of lads available. The farmere of the Gore district are fully apprecitave of the worth of these trainees, and at the present time we have a large number of boys working in that vicinity. Jack Anderson, who broke his leg while in training, has made satisfactory progress in the Palmerston North Hospital, and he is to return home to Dunedin for a further spell before he can resume his training at Flock House. THE "BURNT-OUT"VETERANS. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association and its branches are actively co-operating in this most important measure, and when the "Burnt-out" Bill is completed and presented before the House it will be n most comprehensive one. This measure is to assist .the ex-soldier who is breaking down in health, as the result of war service, and who is not able to prove nttributability to the War" Pensions Board. EX-SOLDIER MINERS. Representations have been made through headquarters, Wellington, to the Minister of Mines urging that the Kawarau dam gates should be kept closed as long as possible to assist the many ex-soldiers who are engaged under the present mining scheme along the banks of the Kawarau and Clutha Rivers. UNEMPLOYMENT. At the annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association unemployment matters receives earnest consideration by the special sub-commit-tee set up, and the matter was also fully dealt with by the whole conference. The conference considered that the time is ripe for a change of policy in dealing with the problem of unemployment in New Zealand, and it urged upon the Government:— 1. "That major public works of a reproductive value, such as irrigation, aftcrestation, completion of railways and the main highways, and drainage schemes should be -initiated as early as possible, wages to be paid at standard rates." 2. "That the No. 5 scheme should gradually be withdrawn, and that until the above policy can, be parried out relief rates of pay and sustenance payments should be increased."

Another important remit, dealing with ex-servicemen who are seriously impaired by ill-health, was carried: —"That all exservicemen of 50 years and over should be permanently retired on sustenance at the same rates they would receive on relief work, including ration or any allowance, this rule to remain in force as long fl 3 the Unemployment Board is in existence." /

"That in view of the hardship caused to unemployed ex-servicemen in the country districts by virtue of differentiation of rate of relief pay between the larger centres and country districts, representations be made to the Unemployment Board that the rate of relief pay should be the same throughout New Zealand." D.S.C.R. COMMITTEE. The local committee of the Disabled Soldiers' Civil Re-establiehment League is actively co-operating in endeavouring to place disabled soldiers in employment, and, although a soldier is not in receipt of an economic pension, he should make it his business to report to the local employment officer, who will endeavour to assist him in every way. Since the establishment of the disabled soldiers' leather factory, which is also engaged in woodwork at the present time, tnia has been the means of rehabilitating a large number of badly disabled ex-soldiers, and they are receiving the support of the public. With the various conferences held under the auspices of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, the details of which are being completed at the present time, we are of a number ef ex-soldiers being placed in temporary, and perhaps permanent, employment.

POPPY DAY. We _ have received the following contributions from the Lauder Presbyterian Church. Anzae Day collection, £1 2s 6d; Berwick Anzac Day collection, £2; Owaka, school badges, Is 6d—making a grand total to £2078 13s 6d. After the poppies have been paid for the approximate sum of £1475 will be available for assisting the many necesitous cases throughout the Otago district. Representatives of the Dunedin Executive of the Returned Soldiers' Association, who attend social functions and reunions throughout the Otago district, clearly point out that this money ia expended on a pro rata basis, and cannot be expended purely in the city, as some ex-servicemen consider should be done. All Canteen Funds money is expended without any cost of administration, and this is carried out on instructions received from Wellington by the various associations. This is made possible only by maintaining a strong membership throughout. BILLIARDS.

A very enjoyable evening was spent last Thursday, when we entertained as guests members of the St. Kilda Bowling Club. The bowlers proved themselves expert billiard players, and were sue-

cessful by 689 to 545. To even matters up our snooker players scored a win over the bowlers, by 390 to 380. "WITH HORSE AND MORSE IN MESOPOTAMIA."

November, 1915, in the far-off Land of the Rivers. Optimism at its height. Townshend and his gallant 6th Division unchecked at any point in a 250-mile advance into enemy country—Townshend at Ctesiphon—Townshend all but in Bagdad—and politicians at Home setting off the new victory against the disaster of Gallipoli. Optimism in Mesopotamia, vague optimism in India, vaguer optimism at the War Office. A single depleted division, without communications, advancing to the capture of the second capital of an Empire that could put three-quar-ters of a million men into the field. December in Australia and New Zealand. An urgent cablegram from India asking for the loan of men to eke out the scanty technical services of her Expeditionary Force "D." Both countries ' responded to the request, and offered to supply and maintain complete units in the field. New Zealand drew upon her telegraphic service for operators, mechanics and linesmen. Australia already had at hand the material for a composite' unitoperators undergoing training at the Marconi School at Sydney, and drivers and signallers undergoing training respectively at the A.S.C. Artillery and Signal depots. Later on the Signal Depots, Moore Park and Broadmeadows, were extended for the concentration of all recruits likely to be of use in the "signal" service—wireless operators and mechanics, instrument repairers, visual signallers, etc. From those camps went the signallers for the whole of the A.I.F. abroad: the drafts were usually small, and rumours were always plentiful. Sometimes it was a new signal company, sometimes it was an opportunity to rejoin old pals in some favoured brigade. But in January an astonishing rumour came along and one that was true. TALES THAT ARE TOLD. One of the "extra" navvies, digging in a particularly soggy trench finding the task heavier, than he had expected, took longer rest spells than his workmates. On making his round, the ganger ran his eye over the group, but said nothing and passed on. A few minutes later he returned and, addressing the new worker, ordered: , , ~ "' Op out! " The man got out of the trench. "'Op in.'" said the ganger. The navvy did so. "' Op out," "Op in, the orders proceeded until the navvy protested. "Hi, gov'nor, what's the game? I ain't a bloomin' soldier." " That's all "right," he was told. Keep it up. You're fetching out more with your boots than you were with your shovel." .