WORK OF THE R.S.A.

Southland Times, Issue 23128, 19 February 1937, Page 6

WORK OF THE R.S.A.

TOUR BY DOMINION VICE-PRESIDENT DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOVEMENT A number of problems faced by the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association were discussed briefly by Mr B. J. Jacobs, Dominion vice-president of the association, in an address to Southland members in Smith’s hall last evening. There was an attendance oi about 60, and Mr Jacobs’s address was followed keenly. Mr Jacobs was introduced by the chairman (Mr A. Kynaston, the Invercargill president). “He has been president oi the Palmerston North association for 19 years, which represents a great deal of work,” said Mr Kynaston. Mr Jacobs had given up his annual holiday to tour the South Island for the purpose of establishing contacts with at least the main associations, he said. Mr Jacobs spoke first of the early days of the association, when there was a minority school of thought which expressed the opinion that the association would be necessary, because of its membership, a short-lived organization. It was said frankly and honestly that it would not live longer than six or seven years, and that the best means to obtain for returned men all of the privileges to which they were entitled was to enter practical politics. “We should be thankful that wise advice was successful in the early days,” he said. “The principle of no politics’ is as important now as ever it was.” Early Constitution He outlined the early constitution oi the association, the criticism of head-’ quarters in Wellington and the grounds for it, and the establishment of a district scheme. That experience threatened to end in disaster and a return to the former system of direct representation, he said. Then the criticism that headquarters had no personal touch with associations was renewed, and it was in an attempt to' build up contact with the South Island that he was making this tour. . In explanation of the constitution ol headquarters, he said that the policy of the association for each year was decided upon by the annual conference of delegates. The headquarters personnel was elected by that conference and its job was simply to carry out the policy already ■■ decided upon. The members had to be resident in Wellington to be able to carry out their duties. Mr Jacobs drew a comparison between army headquarters during the. war and R.S.A. headquarters. It was the army headquarters that formulated policies and the front line men who put them into effect. “In our association, the rank and file decides policy and headquarters obeys instructions,” he said. “The only similarity in that there has always been a tremendous amount of criticism for both.” Soldiers’ Settlement Scheme Discussing the Government’s land settlement scheme for returned soldiers, Mr Jacobs said that one of the biggest problems today was the uneconomic size of a very big proportion of soldiers holdings. Ihe scheme had got to the position that if all of the soldier settlers were to die overnight 90 per cent, of their families would be destitute—and that was after many years of hard work. Something would have to be done and he had reason to believe that active Government interest was being taken in the problem. \ Returning to the subject of the association itself, he said that nowadays it was the smaller associations that constituted the life-blood of the association. “The dog no longer wags the tail: the tail now wags the dog,’ he said. He referred to the high opinions held generally of associations in their various districts, which, he said, was reflected in the esteem in which headquarters was held. “And I assure you that the executive in Wellington is doing its job,” he said. “It has to keep a close watch on many things. _ Nobody is more ignorant of the rights of the returned soldier than the returned soldier himself. Headquarters has a big responsibility and it is discharging it zealously.” The association had a great name, he said. It was the largest association that would ever be known in New Zealand. It was made up of all types of men, a brotherhood born of common service. Its constitution was extraordinary, and its progress and continued good offices depended on the care and zeal with which its local affairs were handled. He appealed to every member to do,his share in maintaining that prestige and bringing in returned men who had not joined up. Coronation Contingent

In reply to a question concerning the association’s representation in the contingent to represent New Zealand at the Coronation ceremonies, Mr Jacobs said that of the 50 men to be selected, actually 25 would be returned men. The association had asked that 100 should be sent, 50 of whom should be returned men. The Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) had been adamant that only 50 men should go. “He said that 100 men would be paraded, but that 50 of them would be naval ratings,” Mr Jacobs said. “In view of the attempts being made to stem unemployment, he did not feel justified in authorizing the additional expense.’ Mr Jacobs added that as far as he knew, representation in the contingent would be by a district system. Each of the four main districts would be invited to nominate so many men. Supper was served in the hall and Mr Jacobs met members and took part in informal discussions.