Government Looks To R.S.A.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 168, 18 July 1942, Page 8

Government Looks To R.S.A.

\ STRIKING testimony to the

standing of the R.S.A. in official opinion, based on the usefulness of the association as a public organisation representing a considerable body of men in the community, was given at the annual conference of the Dominion council by the Prime Minister, Mr. P. Fraser, when addressing the opening meeting. Mr. Fraser thanked the conference for the help the R.S.A. had always given his and previous Governments. That help had taken the form of information, advice and co-operation on various matters appertaining to the interests of returned soldiers, and further than that in other matters dealing with the welfare of the entire community.

Mr. Fraser added that he and his Government still looked to the R.S.A. for a continuance of that assistance, knowing that it would be even more important and even essential at the present time and in the future than it had been in the past.

Two very outstanding instances in which the R.S.A. had rendered signal service were the War Veterans' Allowance Act and the Rehabilitation Act. During the depth of the depression a few years ago, conditions became so bad and the unemployment problem so acute that something had to be done in addition to the orclin-

ary forms of unemployment benefits then offering and the War Veterans' Allowance Act was passed in 1934. It was prepared as a hill by the R.S.A. and prcsenterl to the Government and later became legislation. The Rehabilitation Act, 1941. whicfl benefits the new Digger and covers practically all avenues of repatriation and rehabilitation, was, as a bill, prepared and submitted by the N.Z.R.S.A. and was also passed into law with practically no amendment. With a full knowledge of the assistance that can be given by the R.S.A., and to which its long experience and intimate knowledge of soldiers entitles it, recognition has been given by the Government by providing representation for the R.S.A. on both the Rehabilitation Council and Board.

It is interesting to note that it was disclosed during the meeting of the R.S.A. council that 1421 exservicemen of the present war are included in the total financial membership of the R.S.A. The total number of servicemen who have returned to the Dominion from overseas. according to the latest records, is approximately 3574 as at March 31 this year. Of that number 1963 have been actually discharged from the forces, and the number who have become members of the R.S.A. is in the vicinity of 71 per cent.