UNITED FRONT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 151, 28 June 1934, Page 10

UNITED FRONT

DOMINION R.S.A. MEMBERSHIP INCREASES PAST YEAR’S WORK “The past year of 1933 has seen tbo New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association solidifying its position and rendering sterling work in the relieving of distress and helping ex-servicemen and their dependants with their difficulties,” stated the report presented at the annual conference on Tuesday. ‘‘The number of associations has once again increased and the total is now seventy-seven, as against seventy-one last year.” The total Dominion financial membership was stated to be 21,640, and satisfaction was expressed that the organiation had faced its trials and troubles of the past years and still showed a solid united front. ‘‘Although the problems and general activities during the year have been increasingly difficult, the committee is confident that the organisation has in every way justified its existence as the representative body of the exservice men and women of this Dominion, and has successfully maintained its high standard of just and reasonable representation,” the report continued. “Unfortunately, the Dominion’s unemployment and relevant hardships are still severe, but optimism has boon engendered with the recent substantial increase in wool prices, and it is hoped that the following twelve months will bring a brighter outlook for those who have, to say the least, endured untold hardships during the past few years. Freedom From Friction. “The outstanding feature during the past year, from the association’s point of view, has been the continued freedom from friction throughout the branches of the organisation and the earnestness with wnich all connected in any way with the movement have been imbued. The spirit which was possessed by the ‘silent division’ during the darkest days of 1918 still burns brightly midst the ranks of ex-service men and women; with quiet confidence progress must follow.” Unemployment had been the major problem in every branch of the organisation, the report continued. “It has taxed, to the utmost, the resorces, initiative, and patience of those earnest workers who have continued to give of their best to their unfortunate comrades. It has been the channel through which an amount of some £150,001) (national war funds, N.Z.E.F. canteen funds, and Poppy Day funds —exclusive of subsidies), for the relief of those suffering the effects of their war service, has, during the period 1927-1 1933, been expended. The unemployment ex-servicemen, women, and their dependants, as well as all those in employment, sincerely thank the controllers of the various patriotic and war relief associations and societies, particularly the National War Funds Council and the trustees of the N.Z.E.F. Canteen and Regimental Trust 1 Funds, for the splendid assistance , which has been made available and which has so greatly helped to relieve , ex-servicemen suffering unemployment and its attendant hardships. Distribution of money is still being made and figures regarding the position of the funds which is rapidly becoming seri- ■ ous, are given under the heading of • patriotic and war funds herein. Both - the National War-Funds Council and the N.Z.E.F. Canteen Fund Board made available further grants for the year for unemployment relief amongst 1 ex-servicemen and their dependants. Satisfactory Results. [ ‘‘Tbo decisions of the last Dominion L council meeting concerning unemploy- , ment were presented to the appropriate quarters and, in the main, it is felt ■ that, the results were very satisfac- , tory. ” The committee had been able to ar- ! range for the figures of registered unemployed returned soldiers to be collected by the Unemployment. Board, and on analysis it was found that returned soldiers comprised 20 per cent, of the total registered unemployed. During the past year the Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment League had been incorporated and was now definitely functioning. Probably, at. no time during the history of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association had the organisation’s strength and ability to overcome handicaps been so

tested as it had been in connection with this phase of its work during the past twelve months. ‘‘The history of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association’s effort to secure the ways and moans of utilising the remaining mental and physical abilities of ex-servicemen in suitable employment is too lengthy to record herein, but it dates from 1922,” says the report. “Its retailing would indicate most emphatically how the strength of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, on behalf of the ex-servicemen, was tried time and time again, and how every step forward with the powers that be took every ounce of available pressure to gain. Every word of legislation, every little step of progress, in connection with this problem has had to be fought for by the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association hampered by all manner of difficulties.” The Dominion I headquarters organisation, which had been set up, should be able to make considerable progress with the problem, being able to focus its attention upon every phase and to co-ordinate and explore present and prospective activities. War Pensions. i In regard to war pensions the report I stated that the most particular point I in tho representations made during the past ten vears had concerned an amendment of the War Pensions Act to provide for eligibility for war pensions of soldiers’ wives or widows whether the marriages were contracted (a) before or after disablement, or (b) at any lime after discharge, always subject to the qualifications that the ex-soldier was in reasonable health at the time of the marriage. “The reasonableness and justice of this claim cannot bo denied, and the reply of the Government was that ‘in view of the cos.t of the proposal’ it could not be ‘considered favourably under the present conditions.’ While the committee appreciates the state of the Dominion’s finances it urges that this claim be reiterated ceaselessly until >t is granted.’ ’ The report referred to the movement undertaken to allow ex-servicemen to he eligible for the old age pension at GO years of age, and to the War Pensions Amendment Bill introduced last year by Mr. J. A. Lee, M.P. It was felt that the introduction of this Bill into the House was one of the most important happenings in tho history of the N.Z.R.S.A., and that it. should be quite apparent to every ex-service-man in the Dominion that, every ounce of strength of the organisation would be required to place the necessary provisions of the Statute Book. It. was submitted that extraordinary 'circumstances should be met by sympathetic, legislation, and that it was the will of tho people of the Dominion thai that should be done.