EX-SOLDIERS’ INTERESTS

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1929, Page 5

EX-SOLDIERS’ INTERESTS

LEAGUE TO JOIN ASSOCIATION. DECISION OF STRATFORD MEN. At the annual meeting of the Taranaki Ex-Servicemen’s League at Stratford last night it wa_ unanimousely agreed to affiliate with the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association. In moving to this effect, Mr. S. Macalister said all who had heard Sir Andrew Russell’s address at Stratford would realise that certain advantages would accrue from a formal association with the organisation of the R.S.A. The Rev. L. H. Blamires strongly supported the proposal. He explained that Sir Andrew's address had cleared up many points and disclosed the fact that the league would have all to gain and nothing to lose, more especially as the lee l:<> the U.S.A, was now only Is per member. Personally, he still retained ms membership of a southern branch of the R.S.A. and in recent travels had had it explained tc, him that membership of the R.S.A. was increasing yearly. Colonel L. H. Jardine also urged the adoption of the motion and mentioned that the executive was wholly in favour of that course.

“Get together and keep together” was the advice of an ex-member of the Australian Expeditionary Force but a New Zealander born. He deprecated the tendency for small leagues being set up in different centres and appealed to all to unite in one organisation. “You boys have been together in the past; stick together for the future,” he said. Did members of the Ex-Servicemen’s League intend to become “Pukka” members of the R.S.A. with a subscription of 10s a year, or did they hope to enjoy all the privileges simply by affiliating and contributing one shilling pet member? This question was asked by Captain F. Hartnejj, New Plymouth, who went on to explain the need for an active headquarters’ organisation, and to detail the work of that organisation. The great work of the association lay in helping necessitous comrades, many of whom were unaccustomed to legal formalities and were unaware of the steps to be taken in obtaining relief. Another reason lay in the fact that onefifth of a million pounds, actually belonging to the Diggers was being hoarded up in New Zealand for w-hat purpose he could not say. His association was endeavouring to gain access to this .fund, claiming that it was never more needed than at the present time and that it would be comparatively useless du 20 or 30 years’ time. A tremendous number of men had been discharged as fit, but seeds of disease had developed, and to-day many returned men were breaking up. It was often difficult to adjudicate medically on these ailments, but the R.S.A. was endeavouring to gain access to the fund ho had mentioned and devote it to assisting cases brought under its notice. He appealed to members of the Ex-Servicemen’s League to join as “pukka” members of the R.S.A. At this stage Mr. McMillan stressed the fact that the Ex-Servicemen's League has already been formed to embrace any member of returned soldiers, South African veterans, Maori War veterans, and members of any other service unit. They were determined to retain their league, but were prepared to join up with the R.S.A. To his mind it did not matter whether they were ex-s’ervicemen or members of the R.S.A. as long as they banded into a united body. The motion was then carried unanimously. The annual subscription was fixed at 4s, it being understood that should the league have been misinformed as to the amount of affiliation being only Is, the executive be empowered to pay up to 2s 6d if necessary.