CHAIRMAN CASTIGATED

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1236, 26 June 1947, Page 2

CHAIRMAN CASTIGATED

STATUS OF J FORCE Major-General’s Comments “ Sympathy and Assistance Required ” That he had never felt so strongly upon any matter in his life was the manner in which Major-General H. K. Kipperiberger, the new Dominion vice-president of the New Zealand R.S.A., described his feelings when he was allowed to make a statement on the J Force following a dinner adjournment at the recent conference of the New Zealand R.S.A. The request was made because late in the afternoon the chairman of a committee, Mr. J. D. 'Gerrard, of Whangarei, had made a lengthy statement, which derided the. J Force, in his opposition to allowing them to become members of the New Zealand R.S.A. Speaking with evident feeling, Major-General Kipperiberger stated that he was not dealing with the point as to whether members of the J Force should be allowed to become members of the New Zealand R.S.A., but in regard to tlhe possible effects of remarks madia by the chairman of the committee. The remarks had been brutal and hard. While the chairman was a witty and clever speaker, his own personal reaction had been that he could honestly say he had never felt so strongly.

Menace of Japan During the war they bad fought against the' powers of evil, but through the Grace of God and hard fighting they had survived incredible perils. The menace of Japan had been less than 80 hours: away. New Zealand had accepted with others the responsibility for occupying Japan. The task was that of disarming Japan and destroying its war potential. That task was being carried out by a email brigade group and that service was being done well by youngsters. They could have said to the United States that it do the lot for them, but if New Zealand wanted to share in the responsibility of the Pacific then it had to do its share. Yet, what had happened ? Two years after the menace of Japan they found the chairman of a chamber of commerce demanding that the J Force be brought back. Instead of showing friendliness and an open hand there was a trend to hold the J Force up to scorn and ridicule. As a result the Force suffered from an inferiority complex because it had not got the country or the R.S.A. and the Press behind it. The latter was evident from l the foolish report which had been read (by the chairman to conference) and which an unwise sub-editor had passed. The J Force required the assistance and the sympathy of the New Zealand R.S.A. He did not excuse the manner in which the J Force was recruited, but after all was the country prepared to give compulsory service ? It was not, and so silly inducements were held out oy advertisements. He knew the J Force and it was a most efficient body, which had earned high regard. He hoped conference would 1 reconsider the matter and find 1 some way of showing the assistance required even although not prepared to accept the J Force as members. It would assist in overcoming to some extent the harm which had been done.

Form Own Association A suggestion was made that in view of the importance of the remarks made delegates should sleep on it and reconsider the position in the morning. The chairman of the conference, Mr. J. D. Harper, felt that if a wrong impression had been created in the afternoon: it should be corrected at once. This met with applause. Mr. Haydon suggested that the same assistance be offered the J Force as was offered the Home Servicemen’s Association. .For obvious reasons this was not supported. Finally a motion was approved which stated that the New Zealand R-S-A. conference, realising the importance of the J Force, urges ail 'branches to encourage enlistment and if they so desired members of the J Force would be 1 assisted to foam their own association.