THE RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

Observer, Volume XL, Issue 8, 25 October 1919, Page 23

THE RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

By Sapper

Dispute Settlement. THE dispute is settled. The announcement came as a surprise, but it was an even greater surprise to find that no further particulars were to be divulged.- It was therefore quite expected that any delegates should take steps to have the question re-committed, so that members might be made acquainted with the terms of the settlement. By the time this is in print this information may be available, but in the meantime the thousands of rank and file members have reason to feel that they don't count in the Association very much. "Apparently a section, and considerable section, of the Conference'believes that ordinary members should have no more say in the running of the ship than the frozen carcases in a liner's freezing chamber. * * * The Same Old Sign. It looks like the same old influence which hates the light of clay as much as it likes to control the destiny, and be damned to members' opinions. One would imagine that this inner circle influence had never been to war; had never got out of the rotten atmosphere of the House of Representatives, and had never faced the stern realities of war, m which scheming does not enter. It is quite obvious that a section of our rules regard us as ;( rather irresponsible, ignorant mob, who must be guided carefully, and not given too much rope. However, perhaps it is the inevitable effect of official authority. * * * • What Can Secrecy Gain. It will be remembered that when Mr. Mitchell came north to try to settle the 'dispute, he decided at Hamilton that Headquarters was in the wrong, and recommended a settlement absolutely in favour ol Auckland, but stipulating that the only' announcement that was to be made was that a settlement has been arrived at. Of course, Headquarters disagreed with their ambassador but that is ancient history. Ihe interesting point is that secrecy was to be a condition of the settlement. and the same condition is now being insisted upon. It looks like a matter of policy—policy in the interests ol the individual comprising Headquarters. Naturally, it will be exceedingly unpleasant for these lordly individuals, if it will frankly state that they have olimbed down. And. ot course, how exceedingly bad an effect it would have upon the discipline of the ranks! * * * A New Organisation Scheme. The new organisation proposals, which have been- made at the Conference by Mr. Watts, on behalf of the Auckland District Committee, are revolutionary in character, and, of course, they will come in tor a lot of criticism, but I am certainly of opinion that' they would improve the Association. They have flaws, but these.flaws are nothing in comparison with the liowlmg failure which the present system ol control has brought about. * * * A Clipping of Claws. Our hereditary rulers in Wellington, who seem to believe they have some sort of divine right to hold autocratic pway over the Association, will lead the attack against this scheme, which would be a

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quiet but decisive victory in.-- the interests of- rule of members by members for members, or words to tliat effect. • * * Power and Unity. In the first debate on the scheme some delegates became agonised over what they thought would be loss of power and unity. What they should have said was the loss of opportunity for the Dominion sub-committee to do what its folly or wisdom dictated without anyone to say it nay. At present we have much rnisgovcrnment by this committee of the Executive, which doesn't meet often enough to keep it in touch with Dominion opinion. If we create four provincial Associations which can hold provincial Conferences there will be a much better chance of majority opinion being behind national matters than there is at present. Furthermore, each district will have the feeling that it is controlling its own share of the business, which can never be obtained under the present system. * * * Medals for V.M.C.A. Men. A lot of members will regret the withdrawal of the remit which protested against V.M.C.A. workers being granted service medals. The talk of "another slap at the Y.M.C.A.," and the loss of dignity, are merely silly arguments, which don't have any weight at a distance. How the N.Z. U.S.A. Conference can lose dignity by discussing the granting of service medals to men who never were on the strength of a unit is beyond this writer. Surely to heaven one of our duties to our comrades is to see that nothing is.allowed to cheapen the value of service medals. If V.M..C.A. workers and similar people are allowed medals the fighting man will have no pride in his ribbons. I ask delegates to the Conference if they would regard the Crimean ribbon in the same way if it had been thrown around in the manner the present ribbons appear to be. In writing in this strain 1 am not trying to belittle the work of many V.M.C.A. field men. But this work was purely optional, and it was not so important as the work of carrying bombs or bayonets, or digging trendies or laying wires. It's mighty tough for the fighting man to have his last little honour whittled away. I'd like to have seen the man who would have dared to suggest at the beginning of the war that V.M.C.A. men should participate in the fighting man's honours. The V.M.C.A. champions seem to believe that the Diggers would have given up the ghost without the Red Triangle, biit let me remind them that there was no Red Triangle on Gallipoli in the early days. It's high time that we got the right focus in these things. .-At. present the ''V.M.C.A. is exaggerating its own importance. It may be added that the sun-baked troopers of South Africa managed to survive and make a reputation without Red Triangle outfits kicking about. The V.M.C.A. is too loud and blatant—its home is in America, the land thet won the war.