GENERAL RICHARDSON.

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 24

GENERAL RICHARDSON.

MEETING WITH WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION. On the 27th ult. General Richardson met the members of the Otago and Southland Women's Patriotic Association. The gathering was appropriately held in the Early Settlers' Hall, the centre of so much beneficent activity on behalf of the soldiers during the course of the war, and there was a very large attendance. The stage Was prettily decorated with green foliage, and a number of flags, and patriotic emblems were displayed on the walls. The General, in the course of an address, spoke in terms of warm praise of the selfsacrifioinaf efforts of women in all parts of the world, efforts which, he said, had played ho unimportant part in the successful outcome of the great struggle. He was aware that the women of Otago had done their full share, and he could assure them that the constant stream of parcels despatched over-sea had meant a great- deal to the men in the trenches, and had brought them a touch of home such as nothing else could do. —(Applause.) The women of New Zealand had earned the gratitude of the soldiers for all time, and he trusted the men would not forget what they owed to such organisations as the Otago and Sbuthland Women s Patriotio Association. The speaker also expressed the hope that the women would continue to take an interest in the welfare of the returned men, and would help them to, become merged again in the civil life of the community.-—(Loud applause). Miss M. Downie Stewart (president of the association) replied in the course of an admirable speech. ADDRESS TO RETURNED SOLDIERS. AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION. Close on 400 returned soldiers gathered in the Early Settlers' Hall last evening to hear an address by Genera.l Richardson on the problems of repatriation and various other matters affecting the welfare of soldiers. The General was accorded a j.plendid hearing, and many of his statements were warmly ap plauded. Dr T. Harrison (president of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association) occupied the ohair, and was supported on the Elatform by Colonel J. Cowie Nicholls and .ieutenant-colonel J. H. Moir (a vice-presi-dent of the association). In the course of his introductory remarks the chairman extended a very hearty weloome 'to General Richardson on behalf of the returned soldiers of Dunedin. —(Loud applause.) They would be very pleased, he said,to hear hi 3 opinions respecting such organisations as the Returned Soldiers' Association, and also in regard to the question of establishing soldiers' clubs. General Riohardson, who was received With applause, said his desire was to meet the returned soldiers of this city and to ascertain in what way he could be of service to them. He had discussed matters briefly with General Russell, but he hoped to be in possession of fuller information later on, and he believed that the influence of all returned officers would be exerted in the direction of | scouring the best interests of the returned men and of the State.—-(Applause.) While in Dunedin he had visited the local Repatriation Board, and he had been struck by the keen desire on the part of its members to help the men who came before it in every possible way. The board was composed of live and able men who were "out" to assist the soldiers, and he believed the machinery set up by the Government was going to prove effective in dealing with the intricate problems of repatriation. There y.-ere one or two matters which needed adjustment, but ho was sure that Mr Begg ar>d the members of the board in Dunedin wanted to help the men of Otago to get back to civil life. One point whioh had struck him was that there was a lack of co-ordination between the different departments which existed to help the soldier on his retarn to the dominion, and in this connection ad', coated the sett ; nsr up of a small inquiry board which should seek out all men on their return and mako certain that they Wv?re placed in the way of all information that was likely to be of value. The men now had to find out this information for themselves, but his idea was that this department should get in touch with the men and supply them with it voluntarily. Such an organ ; sation would act in the nature of a "sieve." and would protect others from the small percentage of men who did not "play the game" Generally speaking, the machinery which had been set ut> here was better than that which existed in the Old Country, and he believpd the soldiers would resolve a great deal of consideration. "D : d any organisation get personally in touch with any of you men with a view to repatriation?" asked the General, and his question was greeted with cries of "No." "Do you think it would he a good thincr if pomothin.tr were done in that way." proceeded the General, and this t ; me a chorus of approval greeted hfs oneslion. Continuing General Richardson touched upon the difficulties, connected with the repatriation of disabled men./pot only those who had lost a, limb, but those who suffered from less obvious but none the less serious disabilities. ' Regarding the Returned PoldWs' Association, the speaker said that in his opinion it was nil oxcellenf- thlnj? for ihph to liin-1 fhmissives tocrether with Inndnhle nlv i -r-tr. ririrl rii<rh ideal? in vifv. but they mu«t bo careful always to keep thoso objects and ideals before them.

po far ag the question of retrosnootivo aTtoiirftnoss waa concerned, ho was not yet

fully cognisant of the regulations, but it was obvious and just that men who joined the forces on a certain date should have allowances made to them in proportion to the grants made to men who joined up subsequently. In concluding his address, the general expressed his warm appreciation of the splendid reception which he had been accorded on the night of his arrival in Dunedin by the returned soldiers of this city. In reply to a question regarding the delays which are sometimes experienced in connection with the Repatriation Board, General Richardson said that was a matter which he intended to inquire into. It seemed to him that the reason for these delays lay in the fact that as long as a man was a soldier he did not come under the care of the Repatriation Department, which could do nothing until he was discharged. However, at the present there was a waste of time which was beneficial to r.o ope. —(Applause.) At the clcee of the meeting Dr Harrison presented the general with a silver cigarette case, as a token of the appreciation # m which he was held by the returned soldiers of Dunedin. —(Loud applause.) General Richardson suitably replied-,- and on resurri-. ing his seat wa3 hearty cheers and the singing of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."

0T4.G0 AND SOUTHLAND WOMEN'S PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

GENERAL RICHARDSON'S VISIT. " At the request of General Richardson, a meeting of the Otago and Southland Women's Patriotio Association was arranged in the Early Settlers' Hall on Tueday afternoon, 27th ult. The hall was beautifully decorated for the occasion with flags kindly lent by the Union S.S. Company, and the stage was brightened by quantities of palms and foliage. . ~ General Richardson was received by the executive and taken into the hall, where a great number of returned soldiers had gathered to meet the man who had done so much for them. * In welcoming him on behalf of the Utago and Southland Women's Patriotio Association, the President (Miss Stewart) said that as women, they were very glad of the opportunity to thank him for all he had done for our New Zealand soldiers when in England. As an association they thanked him for the unfailing help h e had always given them in carrying out their share of war work, especially in connection with the Dominion gift parcels. At one time it looked as if the scheme would fall through, and it was entirely owing to the 'General's efforts and support that it did not fail, but on the contrary, was not only continued, but was enlarged and carried on most successfullv as long as it was needed. They felt that his visit had come at a very opportune time, hist when the association were wondering how they could still be of most service to th© men, and knowing what a true and practical friend General Richardson had been to the soldiers, the association looked to him for guidance as to their future work. The Otago and Southland Women's Association was the first of 'its kind formed in New Zealand, and it was anxious to go on as long as it could be of service. General Richardson, in reply, said that personally' he felt very grateful for the parcels, and h© wished on behalf of the soldiers to tell the women how deeply grateful they were. The sentiment value of the parcels had helped, even more than their food value, to keep the men well; the touch of home, and the knowledge that they were not forgotten kept the men in good heart. Some of the officers had objected to the scheme on account of the tremendous amount of work it entailed in handling 32,003 parcels every month, and he would have preferred to have the money sent instead; but he could se© that parcels themselves meant,more to the men than mere money ever could, and he had mad© up. his mind that, if posible, nothing should come in the way to prevent their safe distribution. He hoped that the association would continue its good work, because he was certain Mi at their help -would be required for a long time to come. Although the actual warfare was o'er, it was our duty to see that everything that was possible should be done for those men who had done so much for us. Afternoon tea was then served, and Mr Beath very generously assisted, as he has done on many previous occasions, by playing enlivening music. General Richardson had a chat V.ithvthe returned soldiers present, and, assisted by Lieutenant-colonel Barnett, went fully into some of their grievances, giving the men an opportunity of stating their wants quite freely. In the end the General remarked that the interview had helped him to understand their position much more clearly. .