RETURNED SOLDIERS CONFER

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2758, 29 April 1916, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS CONFER

AN ASSOCIATION FORMED

BRANCHES TO BE ESTABLISHED

The first conference of returned _ soldiers was commenced in the Soldiers' Club, Lambton Quay, at 10 a.m. yesterday. Thero were present: —Captain Simson. Dunedin: Corporal O'Brien, Privates Clark, Grymes, and L. R. Lockhead. Christchurch: Corporal R. H. Livingstone, Private J. B. Seymour, and Trooper N. B. M'Callum. Wellington: Sergeant Mason, Corporal Rae, Corporal Batten, Privato R. R. Martin, jun.; Cliathain Islands: Private Cleland. Palmerston North: Privates Shiel and Rasmussen. Rotorua: Sergeant MacVean and Private Lyndes. Gisborne: Sergeant-Slajor Oman and Private M'Gill. Hokitika: Sergeant H. Wild. Greymouth: Private S. R. Moss. Westport: Private T. B. Straker. Invereargill: Sergeant M'Quarrie. Nelson: Privates P. B. Lamb and Norman Beagley. Oamaru: .Corporal Mos6op. Blenlieim: Q.M.S. Thompson. Napier: Sergeant Newsum and Corporal Towers. Hastings: Private Price. Lessons of the War, Captain Simson temporarily occupied the chair for the opening of proceedings. After the singing of the tional Anthem the acting-chairman welcomed tho delegates from the outside towns, making special reference to the fact that a representative was present from the Chatham Islands. (Applause.) He explained the basis on which representation at the conference had been allotted, and read the messages that had been exchanged between himself and General Birdwood. "You all know General Birdwood," he remarked. "A finer soldier we have never had the pleasure of serving under." (Loud applause.) Proceeding, Captain Simson said that the returned soldiers were the product of a war which was being waged almost throughout the world, and which would change tho ideas, temperament and conditions of the millions who were taking part, in it. Civilians wore, fighting as soldiers to protect religion, freedom, and justice. The war was being fought in the interests of humaiiitarianism, and this was the lesson that the returned , men had learned from it. They had learned not only the lesson iof discipline, in drill, but the discipline of unselfishness, hygiene, and clean living, and they were better men than when they left this country, if tho people would only recognise it. They must not bo used for political purposes, and the politician who attempted to use them for his own ends would fall. The problems attaching to the returned soldiers must, be faced, and the first step was the formation of soldiers' clubs in the various centres. An association, to which, these clubs would be affiliated, was also an absolute necessity. The idea of the formation of an association was solely for the welfare of' returned soldiers as such, and as citizens of NewZealand when they were .discharged. Ho considered that there were- 6000 returned men in New Zealand to-day, and those men would be agents of information regarding 30,000 men. In Australia a- Returned Soldiers' Association had been established, and received Government recognition. He had received a letter from the association on ,' the other side, which, stated that the members failed to see why reciprocity should not bo established'between tho Australian and Now Zealand organisations, and why the good feeling and fellowship that had existed at Gallipoli should not still be fostered now that many of the men had returned to their native shores.

The acting-chairman added that His Excellency tho Governor had extended his patronage to tho New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, and it also had the sympathy of the Defence Minister and Sir Robert Stout. What it now required was the sympathy of tho Government and the Press and public of Now Zealand.

Captain Simson then vacated the chair while a chairman was being appointed. _ Captain Simson was the only nominee, and was declared unanimously elected. In returning thanks, ho said that personally he . had his faults, and he had, made mistakes, but he was working for nothing • else than the welfare of the. returned men, and lie was quit© sincere and genuine in his intentions. (Applause.) ; What's In a Name? The- chairman moved:—"That a New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association is hereby formed." This was seconded, by Private M'Gill. It was moved, as an amendment:— "That the name of the organisation be the New Zealand Discharged Soldiers' Association," the mover contending that discharged soldiers could do more for the men than returned soldiers in uniform, who were still bound by regulations. The amendment was seconded. Privato Seymour thought that at that stage it was immaterial as to what the organisation was to be termed. This could be decided upon when the constitution was being discussed. Sorgt.-Major Oman said that roughly about 80 Gisborne men had returned and were scattered about New Zealand. If the association was to be only for discharged soldiers, many of these' men would be debarred from joining it. Corporal Batten stated that the association would fail in its objects if it did not include men who had not received their discharges. , The mover of the amendment explained that he had no wish .to exclude any returned men, but his 'idea was' that when a man was in uniform he was unable to take an active part in public life. He would withdraw the amendment. The original motion was then carried unanimously. Other resolutions carried were: "That wherever there are sufficient numbers of returned men to warrant it, branches of the Returned Soldiers' Association be formed"; "That the headquarters of the association be Wellington." Sergt.-Major Oman expressed the hope that the newspapers would do all in their power to assist the association, and after a vote of thanks was accorded the Press for attending the meeting, the conference then went into committee. A Constitution Adopted. The conference sat in committee throughout the day and up _, till 10 o'clock last evening. At the conclusion of the night session, Captain Simson reported that a provisional constitution had been adopted, and a basis of membership defined. A provisional executive had also been set up, consisting of discharged soldiers resident in Wellington, who would represent the various cont.res where branches existed, and Captain Simson had been elected president. The delegates, are to leave for their homes to-day, and will renort within ten days to the various branches, to confirm (or otherwise) what has been done at the conference, and. report to the executive.Captain Simson stated that the conference had been a highly successful one, and there was no.reason to doubt that it had 1 been established on a firm and enduring basis.