HELP FOR DISABLED MEN

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1931, Page 9

HELP FOR DISABLED MEN

VALUABLE WORK DONE BY R.S.A. ADDRESS BY CAPTAIN HARTNELL. Au enlightening address on the work of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, with particular referehce to the activities of the association in North Taranaki, was given at the weekly luncheon of the New Plymouth Rotary Club yesterday by Captain F. L. Hartnell, president of the New Plymouth branch of the association. Referring to the early history'of the association in New Zealand Captain Hartnell touched upon the work it had done in the interests of returned men, and the benefits the returned men had derived. Indeed, it was doubtful, he said, whether the returned men fully appreciated the fact that practically everything they had gained from the Government had been the result of'the association’s efforts, and that in the benefits gained New Zealand ex-service men wAre probably more fortunate than any other ex-service men in the Empire. Captain Hartnell went on to refer to the o-rowing number of men who, though discharged as fit and who considered themselves fit, were at this early period broken in health and permanently aged. The Rehabilitation Commission, which collected evidence a little over twelve months ago throughout New Zealand, emphasised in no uncertain manner the fact that too soon had the Government of the country come to the conclusion that all sickness and impaired health had manifested itself, and the medical evidence wiven before that commission was almost unanimous in’ acclaiming that ex-service men were passing through a period when latent war disabilities were manifesting themselves in bodily and mental derangement. Several local cases were mentioned by the speaker in support of this contention. It was the association’s duty, he said, to educate the people and the Government to the fact that the time had arrived when these cases should be moi e sympathetically dealt with by the Government. The work of the New Plymouth branch of the association was not work that could be spoken of in public, said Captain Hartnell. It was not advisable, because of its intimate nature, that it should be shouted from the house-tops. But it was found as the years rolled by that the work of the association became greater and more difficult. Captain Hartnell emphasised the fact that so far as the New Plymouth association was concerned not one penny was spent on the social side; There were those who prophesied that when the R.S.A. Chib was disbanded and entertainment was given up the association yvould cease to exist. Yet its numbers had grown from 76 at that period to a strong body numbering 300 members, and the public support given to the association had increased in like ratio, which was proof positive that the work of the association was appreciated not only by ex-service men but also by citizens in general. In conclusion Captain Hartnell stated that the whole of the funds of the association, except what was subscribed by individual members of the association, is derived from the sale of poppies, and as far as New Plymouth is concerned every penny derived from this source goes back to ex-service men, their wives or children. Not one penny is deducted from this fund for the administration of the association.