R.S.A. CONFERENCE OPENS

Chronicle (Levin), 17 June 1947, Page 5

R.S.A. CONFERENCE OPENS

■Press Associkition .

By Telegravh-

WELLINGTON, June 17. Rousing cheers greeted the Governor-General, Sir Bernard ■ Freyberg,. when he opened the 31st ■Dominion canference "of the N.Z. R.S.A. today, which happened to be the first anniversary -of 'his arrival in New Zealand to become •Governor-General. A total of 101 qrancnes were represemea aG rne conierence, wnicn asxed M-is Exceilency to convey to the King an assurance of the unswerving loyalfly of the 136,000 members of the $.sj> jsociation. The president of the association, Mr. B. J. Jacobs, conveyed felicitations to Sir Bernard and Lady Freyperg on havi-ng celebrated their silver wedding. Sir Bernard advised members to avoid entirely any question of getJng into parcy politics, saying that he knew that was the view taken oy Sir Andrew Russell, who led the First N.Z.E.F. He said .that the work being done bv re-estabiish-ment centres .was absolutely first class. It iilled one with the greatest confidence. He had ' been impressed with the bond of cameraderie existing among men in the ^enabiiitation centres':' . Speaking about the care of veterans in^apacitated by sickness or old age, he spoke of the work being done in Australia in this respect, and asked that he be included in any committee that was going to sit in New Zealand to consider the problems here. The Prime 1 Minister, Mr. Fraser, addressed the conference, saying that the housing question was -recognised " by the Government as a •highly pressing problem. He accepted with thanks an offer by 'the president of the association for every co-operation in speeding up house building. "We invite yoUr assistance," said Mr. Fraser. "I am not for the moment ^oing into the question of compulsory ser.vice," said Mr. Fraser. "We have fo see, but if I had been in the British Labour' Party .conference I would have been voting with .the majority without -anv doubt at'all." Australia had decided not to apply the compulsory system, but N.ew Zealand had to copsider first whether it was essential here. Referring to preference In employment for returned men and the difficulty associated with the terrn "other things being equal," Mr. Fraser assured the conference that in Government appointments at •least the returned serviceman •would certainly not be overlooke^. Earlier in the proceedings men who had served in World War II were asked to stand up, -and approximately half the delegates rose.