RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14142, 19 July 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

BRANCH FORMED IN NELSON

ADDRESS BY CAPTAIN SIMSON

(Fiom "The Colonist," June 26.)

.About 20 returned soldiers attended a meeting at. the Institute on Saturday afternoon to consider the question of the formation of a Nelson branch of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association. Several civilians were also present by. invitation. ■.-■--.. ...Captain? Donald Simson, who was voted to the chair, outlined the tunsand objects of the association. The necessity for a satisfactory state of affairs generally, he said, was essentialto the maintenance of an adequate upr ply of fighting men with which to win the war. Tho returned soldiers were entitled to the best possible treatment which the country, was prepared to give;-. but the many difficulties arising out of their taking part, in thewar—the life they had: led,, the effect on temperament and ideas, required not only, sympathetic reference but actual help from the public to. enable ..-their' absorption gradually, and, return to normal conditions. The danger of.'allowing-.a'con-dition of. drift and apathy to grow was a very grave one. The problems attached .to, the.,returned soldiers must . be faced. 11l addition, the effect on recruiting was serious. Whereas dissatisfied men,, continually ventilating their grievances publicly and privately, would hinder recruiting, every returned man should be a valuable recruiter. The formation of an association would re-j duce to a minimum the "grousing"! heard at street corners, hotel bars; etc., j as it would furnish a channel by which grievances, and difficulties could be discussed with the Defence authorities. In addition to the association there should be returned soldiers' clubs and an information bureau within the- precincts, of the club. He was convinced, after five months' study of the returned soldiers' problems, that only through the medium of properly organised! clubs could touch be kept with the men. By the formation of % etli association, with branches in each town, there could be obtained a consensus of opinion- upon the' primary points necessary to the welfare of the .men before and after discharge. By the establishment of the information -biireau the settlement of difficulties; and complaints would be facilitated. Captain Simson afeo: referred to the voluntary register, which contained the name, rank, force.served with, regiment, actions in which soldiers have taken part, hospital and' hospital ships, address, and otter detaite. The register would be not only a historical record, but through- the channel of the irifoi-mation bureau would lie n means of locating and getting into touch with all returned men.

At the request of Captain Simson, Private Beagley read the draft constitution of the Returned Soldiers'VAssociation adopted at the recent conference in Wellington. Mr T. A...H. Field, M.P., expressed pleastu-e at Captain Simson's visit to Nelspn. Speaking as a member of Parliament, he said that with an association soldiers' difficulties could be focussed and brought before Parliament, not as the opinion of one or two, but as a■ remit from the whole "of the returned soldiers in New Zealand. In time to come the Returned h Soldiers' Association would become such' a powerful bod}' that no Government would be able to. put its proposals: on ■ one side, without ~■ giving them the very -fullest consideration.- The association could he a■ A*ery valuable institution, and he hop«l>a strong ■•branch would be formed in Nelson,

Mr Wallace Snodgrass said that up to the present patriotic committees had -had to! do a great deal of work; in connection with the soldiers,, and at the meeting of ' the Dominiom Advisory Board in-Wellington on Thursday last a resolution had been carried in favour ef a moratorium to protect soldiers' property. As an illustration of the necessity, for this lie instanced a case,in Nelson where a wife whose husband was a,t the front had been pressed to the limit for interest, and this after she had paid up previous arrears. Patriotic committees had secured some reforms for soldiers, but an association would have more, weight, and there would be, besides, the personal element. The association .could be of great value and assistance*-to; the Nelson ■ Patriotic Committee. Though small, at first, the association would grow and become an important b'ody/jand one entitled to the greatest respect.' .

Mr Colin Campbell expressed his per-sonal.-pleasure'at'.seeing Captain Simson. ■■"':'

Mr W. J. Moffatt took the opportunity of thanking the-returned soldiers for wha* _fehey,had done for those who had stayed at -lioine_. : __He_would^be only too pleased to co-operale 'with" tne'asgooia■tion.' •■'.•• ■■ ■'; .' /;■.-. •' .'.-'"..■■■

Mr C. Cr, Sidford, lately recruiting organiser for the Nelson district,-acknow-ledged the assistance he had received from returned soldiers.' Speaking,from his experience as a member of a South African contingent; he urged the value of regular meetings of. the. association to keep the members in touch with one another. ,

Private Beagley then moved, and Trooper Riches seconded, that a branch of the association be formed in Nelson, the motion being, carried unanimously. Captain Simson said provision was made for honorary members, who would help financially and, what; was more important, be the connecting link between soldiers arid civilians;

It was resolved that a- committee of seven be appointed, to act till after the next-conference, to be held in Wellington shortly. ... . ■ . ■ :

The following % were appointed thpj committee,:^—Sergeant Dement " (chairman), Private Beagley (secretary), §er-! geant Liddle. Privates ~'Gibli.n, Bird.! and Burt, and Trooper Rielies. Captain Simson, after, addressing.the men, appealed for their support of the association, and also gave some,advice, j which made a deep impression; on those present. - ~~- • .. % ' , One of those present referred to the large number of oligibles who were working on the Howai-d goldfield.' There were 30 or 40 of them, he said, and "they should be "somewhere else." : If they could stand a winter at.the Howard they had no right to be there. He. suggested that they shmild be treated in the same .way as eligibles desiring to take, up land, v,:

Captain Simson said these men would be got, at under the new law, when it was passed. - . ■

Letters and telegrams of apology and good wishes were, received from .Koliatn, Wakefield, Collingwobd, and Motueka '

A letter from .Motueka stated that; a branch of the association had been formed there, and that It would-be decided later whether *-it should continue? as a, separate branch' or join with the,-Nelson •branch. r - -* ,:: ■': ;- •■- -'-

- ; One of the men present was wearing his■returned soldier's badge,: of silvery aid tliis was passed, round arid faypurably commented-;oh; ;>l/^ i : "?5~

Refreshments were provided hv tho Ladies' Committee, and were greatly appreciated Tbe meeting closed \uth a vote of thanks to and three cheers for* Captain Simsott.