A.R.S.A.

Observer, Volume XXXIX, Issue 48, 2 August 1919, Page 15

A.R.S.A.

By Sapper

Association Shows Fight, op HE A.R.S.A. has displayed a I variety of matters lately, and commendable "punch" in a the sure and certain result will be that many people who now regard that small body of only 7,000 members as a transient and fleeting thing, will sit up and take notice. Following the Featherston revelations, the Association Executive expressed emphatic opinions upon the suggested in Christchurch of an alien professor. Now it has taken up a- petition, signed by 700 of the lluahine's men, complaining about the crude and unsatisfactory conditions under which the wives and children of soldiers are transported from the Old Country to God's Own,and about wastefulness in regard to the military education system overseas- On the latter point most "Diggers" now here have not much information, and if I mistake not. they will be inclined to regard the complaint as not very serious, bearing in mind the fact that the chief object of the scheme is not to turn out professors and masters of crafts, but to keep men's brains in action. Of course, they will be prepared to admit that there has been some waste and muddle, but where is there not?

Privations of Wives. There will be few, however, who will not agree that the complaints about the conditions suffered on board transports by the women and children are not well founded, and very much to the point. There may be sections of the community who, in their ignorance and prejudice, object to our fellows bringing home British brides, but the solid opinion will strongly favour Government action which will make the voyage for them a little less like the voyages of vessels which once ran to Botany Bay.

Political Action. The greatest surprise members have had for many a day was the new political platform, which implies party action, issued by the District Committee, which came into existence as. the result of the decision of the Conference, to decentralise organisation. Before this was issxied the position was that the Auckland Association had re-affirmed its non-party programme, and had authorised the Executive to move in the direction of showing opposing Associations its true meaning, and of securing a special conference as soon as possible to consider the proposals. A general meeting of the Association will be held this week to discuss the new move. At present none of the rank and file knows what has prompted the District Committee to urge direct party action, but the inference is that its members now come to tho conclusion that the obtaining of pledges from all candidates for political honours to support the original platform, and to vote against any Government which did not carry out the proposals, was fraught with grave dangers, which are obvious.

Will Unity Continue? On the original proposals the Association was unanimous, but there is some reason for suspecting that a section of our members will be suspicious about the wisdom of launching out definitely into party politics. "Sapper" has not clear opinion on the qxiestion so far, and, like many men, will go to the meeting -with an open mind. It would not be wise to pre-judge the proposal, for the ordinary member does not knoAv the arguments of its sponsors. There is no question that there are many wrongs which repeated efforts on the part: of the R.B.A. have not righted, and right them we must if we are to remain

true to the principles of our Brotherhood. But how we should go about it is the question of the moment, and we may learn much at the general meeting.

Points from the Platform. Quite apart from the matter of policy in regard to the proposal, it will be admitted by most-of our members, I think, that the platform contains many excellent things. The spirit of the preamblo is good. The first need of this country, it states, is unity. At present the country is divided into all manner of factions- These factions do not represent any broad basis of political principle. They furnish an opportunity for the political adventurer. During the. Avar the national spirit has descended into pettiness and jealousy. Hatred has taken the place of constructive aspiration, and the national life .sinks into disease. Existing political parties are infected by this malady, and have lost their usefulness. Their state is now such that we cannot hope that they will reinstate the proper spirit of politics. Under these circumstances the returned soldier "is called upon to redeem the situation. The means to be adopted is a Returned Soldiers' Platform, which recognises that the first real necessity of the State is a new spirit and a now vitality, and that new legislation is of secondary importance. * * • * Justification. "The claim of the returned soldier to put forward this platform," continues the preamble, ''rests on his experience; on the fact that he has already redeemed the country from the foreign enemy; on the fact that all returned soldiers have the strongest bonds to hold them in unity; on the fact that they have the beginnings of the necessary organisation; on the fact that they understand the proper and improper uses of discipline; and on the fact that they permeate the country evenly from one extremity to the other, ajid represent no faction or class interest whatsover. It is recognised that it is not practicable for any faction to determine a common ground to meet opposing factions upon, nor for any faction to trust overtures from its opponents, even if they were made; therefore it is upon the returned .soldier to take a reasonable and moderate ground so far as actual legislative intention is concerned, and from it to appeal to all extremists to come so far to meet him. And the returned soldier platform must base its claim upon the spirit, of goodwill, unity, honesty, and constructiveness which stands behind it, and which is insisted upon as the vital principle of immediate future progress and national health and welfare."

Where Difficulty Arises. The platform deals Avith all the main issues of the day, besides embodying all the principles of the Association in regard to the soldier and his. repatriation. It is unfortunately necessary to express definite opinions upon the liquor question and other highly controversial matters, and there arises difficulty in the minds of those who look ahead to elections. However, it is yet too soon to discuss them at length. It will be time enough to deal with them when the opinion of the general meeting has been obtained. * * * Peace Night Dance. It seemed to come as a surprise to a lot of people that the dance given to returned men on Peace Night was not a "Donnybrook." Why they should regard the average soldier as a wild and woolly customer, who cannot be trusted to behave himself on such occasions, I don't lenbw. They apparently forget that the soldier is merely a citizen who fought, and that he does not usually disgrace his women folk and cause the Riot Act to be readIf the political platform serves no other purpose than to show the critics of the soldier that".>he:occasionally thinks, and thinks deeply, it will have been worthwhile;