A NEW ERA

Southland Times, Issue 20523, 27 June 1928, Page 8

A NEW ERA

RETURNED SOLDIERS

ASSOCIATION ON BETTER FOOTING APPEAL FOR CO-OPERATION Following the recent reorganization of the Returned Soldiers’ Association a dinner arranged by the Soldiers’ Club for the general committee was held in the Mary Elizabeth tea-rooms last evening. This is the first function of its kind in Invercargill and a large muster attended from both town and country.

The objects of the reorganization and of the dinner were to stimulate the interest of returned soldiers in their organization and resuscitate the war-time spirit of good fellowship. When Sir Andrew Russell was in Invercargill last year he predicted that there would be henceforth an increasing demand from ex-soldiers for social gatherings where they could sing the old choruses, hear anecdotes from their comrades, fight their battles o’er again, listen to lectures on various aspects of the war and at the same time attend to the general business of the association. Last night’s gathering was framed on these lines.

As one of the speakers mentioned during the meeting, the Returned Soldiers’ Association throughout New Zealand is undergoing a revival. Dunedin and Gore are strong centres and Invercargill will henceforth be well to the fore. In war, more than at any other time, all men are equal and la«t night’s assembly was a fraternizing of influen’ial and representative professional men. company managers, civil servants, artisans and employers in various lines of business together with farmers from the country. With their guidance the R.S.A. cannot fail to exert a strong influence for good in the community and at the same rime further the interests of those who require medical treatment, pensions or employment. /

A general feeling was manifested that it is the duty of all returned soldiers to see that disabled men are in receipt of pensions, that the unemployed are secured a fair measure of relief and that soldier settlers are not overburdened, while the only method of attaining these objects is through an association with a strong membership. Furthermore the R.S.A. must have unselfish ideals if it is to have the support of the general public: it must exert its influence in the right direction, encourage the territorials. Boy Scouts and other movements, preserve the true spirit of Anzac Day and foster a true spirit of citizenship in children of to-day and the citizens of to-morrow. CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS. The chairman (Mr J. Hargest) in his opening remarks mentioned that many apologies had been received from town and country members. In regard to the constitution of the meeting he wished to inform those present that it was really the ordinary quarterly meeting of the executive, but as a number of country members had been asked to attend the executive thought that they would like to get a representative gathering from the town to meet them. He hoped that when the meeting concluded they would all go out as disciples of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. He was afraid that during the last few years the R.S.A. had been losing ground but the executive had zealously and loyally been trying recently to nut the association on a better footing. He was sure their efforts would succeed if the representative gathering that evening were any criterion. The chairman concluded with an appeal to all to do their best for the R.S.A.’s cause. AIMS OF R.S.A. Mr J. Tait and the chairman spoke briefly on the work, ideals and future of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. Mr Tait, in referring to the necessity of more life being infused into the local association, said there was no doubt that the association had fallen on evil days. Nine months ago it was nearly dead, and the existence for some months of a Returned Soldiers’ League was for that reason justified. The league had caused R.S.A. members to wake up and rally round their organization. Although the Invercargill branch had lost members it was gratifying to know that there had been an eight per cent, increase of members throughout the Dominion. Matters were now looking brighter in Invercargill and with greater enthusiasm the association would again b? well to the fore. The speaker then referred to the valuable work done by the Returned Soldiers’ Association since its inception. The gratuity, widowed mothers’ allowances, loans to soldiers, work for disabled men, pensions and land loans had all been made certain through the organization. Mr Tait, speaking of the future of the R.S.A. said that the time had come for more altruism in its aims. In the past the association had been largely selfish in its objects. The time had now come when it should think of community interests and public welfare. While the Returned Soldiers’ Association would never enter into politics it could do a lot to realize the ideals which inspired the best in our race. The world to-day needed a definite purpose, not merely a policy of drift, and the association could help to instil a definite ideal in the community.

Mr J. Hargest said that the spirit of comradeship which banded all returned soldiers together would stand them in good stead in performing the idealistic duties which the Returned Soldiers’ Association were taking on. Referring to Anzac Day he said that he did not think there, was any fear in the towns of that sacred day being observed merely as a holiday. In the country he fearer that such was not the case. He had been filled with dismay last Anzac Day at seeing so many country people, including returned soldiers, working as usual on Anzac Day. The Returned Soldiers’ Association was fulfilling a useful purpose in assisting returned soldiers on the land. He knew that many of these farmers had had hard times and the association had helped materially in getting relief for those in difficulties. HOW THE R.S.A. CAN HELP. After the chairman’s foregoing remarks, many ways in which the R.S.A. can altruistically help the community were referred to by different speakers. Major McHugh said that returned soldiers could greatly help the territorials by occasionally inspecting them on parade, by lecturettes and by attending camps. The Rev. John Chisholm spoke of the work of the association regarding Poppy Day, war funds and unemployment. In his preparatory remarks he expressed pleasure at the tenor of Mr Tait’s speech in setting such high ideals before the association. Its day was doomed if it tried to exist merely as a benefit society. Fortunately it now had higher aims. He suggested that one way in which the association could help the public weal was to encourage support for the League of Nations. How the R.S.A. could help the Boy Scout movement formed the subject of Mr I. Carr’s remarks. Mr Carr said that although not officially connected with the Scout movement he was greatly interested in it. The greatest difficulty in the movement was to get suitable officers. Three hundred and seventy-five officers were needed at present to cope with the large number of enrolments and to enable boys to be promoted as they deserved. The Invercargill troops were starving for experienced leaders and he suggested that the R.S.A. should find boys capable of taking the leadership and acting as assistant scoutmasters. He also suggested that the R.S.A. should form a troop. There were plenty of boys offering.

Mr H. S. Raines dealt with country subassociations. There had been difficulties in the way of proper co-operation between the sub-associations and the main branch, but these had largely been removed and he was glad to be able to speak optimistically of the future. He was glad that the work of the R.S.A. was to be put on a higher plane, but he hoped the work of helping returned men would not be lost sight of. He was sure that all the sub-associations would loyally assist the main branch.

Mr L. S. Graham touched on pensions and break-downs. There were a good many returned men who thought they were quite fit on their return, but who had breakdowns later on. The onus was then on them to prove war disability. In this connection there were many Southland men who were deeply indebted to the local doctors, as the speaker showed by quoting specific cases of appeals where doctors had at inconvenience given evidence and assistance. He dealt with certain anomalies existing in regard to various classes of pensions. Mr F. G. Hall-Jones spoke of Anzac Day. He said that the fitting commemoration of Anzac Day had greatly exercised the minds of rhe executive. The deficiencies of the 1927 service were realized and the executive had been at pains to remedy these for 1928. The result was that much more fitting ceremonies had been held. He paid a tribute to Mr Macvicker’s organization of the children’s service and referred to the visitation of the schools and the inauguration of the essay competition in the schools. By holding services on Anzac Day and by such competitions the association could foster a spirit of service and self-sacrifice. The association should always remember that one of its duties was to uphold the sanctity of Anzac Day.

The Toe H movement formed the subject of Mr L. D. Macvicker’s remarks. He dealt with the history of the movement, its worldwide application and its ritual. Toe H commemorated the “elder brothers,” those who had died. The commemoration was not sad, but uplifting. If Toe H could assist the R.S.A.. as he thought it could, he appealed to all to give it consideration.

The last matter discussed was that of future meetings, and the opinion was generally expressed that a meeting should be held on the eve of Armistice Day. Congratulations were extended to the organizers of the dinner for the excellent manner in which it was conducted.