“DISGRUNTLED MAN”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26916, 30 October 1948, Page 8

“DISGRUNTLED MAN”

PRESIDENT OF SERVICES’ ORGANISATION

R.S.A. DISCUSSES CLAIMS P.A. - INVERCARGILL, Oct. 29. “In his desire to justify the existence of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association, Mr Kenneth Melvin, the Dominion president, made some incorrect statements to the press last week.” said the acting chairman, Dr A. Owen Johnston, at a meeting of the District Council of the Invercargill R.S.A. to-day. With this remark, Dr Owen Johnston opened discussion on Mr Melvin’s statement and attitude towards the R.S.A. . .

The subject was not dealt with for long and concluded when one member said: “ We should not take much notice of what Mr Melvin says. He appears to me to be a disgruntled man wanting some publicity.” “ I was a member of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. and I strongly support the statement of the Dominion president of the R.S.A. that he regretted that thei'e were two associations dealing with the same business,” said Dr Owen Johnston. The first mistake that Mr Melvin had made was in taking credit for his association in persuading' the Government to increase the mufti allowance from £l2 10s to £25. Dr Owen Johnston said that he could remember as a member of the Invercargill R.S.A. that there was not a meeting of the association when the subject of increasing the mufti allowance did not come up for discussion. The 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association had come into the picture long after the R.S.A. had started to urge the increase. Much of the pressure had come from other bodies as well. Mr Melvin’s claim that it was his association which reversed the onus of proof in respect to pension cases was also incorrect, added Dr Owen Johnston. The matter had been discussed for years by the R.S.A., and ultimately the Government agreed to amend the ruling some time before the -2nd N.Z.E.F. Association came into existence.

“Left to the R.S.A., gratuities would have been deferred over two years instead of being payable in lump sums on demand through Post Office accounts as our association urged and the Government finally agreed. Kiwis thus received their gratuities when they most needed them." This statement by Mr Melvin was also wrong, said Dr Owen Johnston. The prompt availability of gratuities was largely a result of the efforts of the N.Z.R.S.A. The 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association did not initiate transit housing accommodation as Mr Melvin would have the public believe. He added that the scheme was initiated by the city councils ana municipal authorities. The attitude of the R.S.A. was not “grab all,” and it did not demand 75 per cent, of new State houses for former servicemen. It asked for 50 per cent, of the houses and considered this reasonable. Dr Owen Johnston added that as far as the matter of the defence of the country was concerned the R.S.A. preferred to differ from the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association.