Ex-Imperial Men.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20280, 14 April 1934, Page 8

Ex-Imperial Men.

Problems Discussed at Annual Meeting. were present last night at the annual meeting of this section of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association, when problems particularly affecting the ex-imperial men were discussed. The president of the association, the Rev F. T. Read, who was in the chair, said that although the section had not been in existence for a whole year, it was considered that the time was opportune for holding the annual meeting. He had much pleasure in welcoming the ex-imperial men, as during a good portion of his life he had been associated with Imperial soldiers. He realised, therefore, what their feelings were. Mr Read reviewed the activities of the executive and Dominion headquarters of the association in bringing to the notice of the Imperial authorities the grievances of the ex-imperial men in New Zealand. He said that what seemed to be necessary was something in the nature of an appeal board in Britain to which appeals could be made against decisions of the British Ministry of Pensions. Pensions and Relief. Mr W. E. Leadley said he had been interested in the work of the Imperial Soldiers’ Committee, and he was disappointed that the attendance was not larger. The two main difficulties in regard to Imperial soldiers in New Zealand, he said, seemed to be that it was not possible to get sufficient funds from the Imperial authorities for relief of distress, and also the unsatisfactory nature of dealing with pension claims and pension appeals from Imperial men resident in New Zealand. This year there would be a unique opportunity of pressing the claims of ex-imperial men, as the conference of the British Empire Service League would be held in Australia in eight months’ time. He moved as follows: “ That it be a recommendation to the executive of the Christchurch R.S.A. that the N.Z.R.S.A. be requested to send a strong'delegation to the next conference of the British Empire Service League in Australia for the purpose of making the strongest representations on behalf of Imperial soldiers resident in New Zealand, firstly, to secure further grants from the British Canteen Funds for the relief of distress among Imperial soldiers, and, secondly, to urge that better arrangements be made for dealing more expeditiously with pension claims.” The motion was carried. Mr A. L. Emerson made an appeal to the Imperial men to stand by the R.S.A. He said that the association looked upon all the ex-Imperial men as New Zealanders. Mr G. Dabourn, another member of the executive, also stated that the executive showed no differentiation between New Zealand and ex-Imperial men when making grants for the relief of distress. Mr Read read a letter from Colonel F. W. W. Dawson, expressing regret that he was unable to attend the meeting and stating that he was well pleased with the help that was being given to the ex-Imperial men by the R.S.A. Tribute to R.S.A. Mr J. A. East, one of the ex-Imperial men, said he arrived in New Zealand in 1922 and was helped with advice given to him by the R.S.A. Another ex-Imperial man said that individually the Imperial men could do nothing and he considered that to withdraw from the R.S.A. would be “the maddest idea imaginable.” The following committee was elected:— Messrs J. H. Prisk, J. A. East, J. Buller, J. Gray, A. Blackburn, C. H. Booth, R. H. H. Raddon and J. W. Grimes.