RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3180, 3 September 1917, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE Several moo tings of the executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association have been held in tho King's Chambers since Friday evening. Captain Pitt (Gisborne), president, presided. The other delegates present were: Major M'Killop and Mr. W. Clark (Dunedin), Major Rostrick (Hamilton), Major Boxer (Hastings), Mt. H. M. Haycock (Palmerston North), Messrs. C. W. Batten, J. I. Pox, and J. K. Harper (Wellington), Mr. G. P. Aldridgc (Naipier), Mr. W. B. M'Callum (ChristchurcliJ, Mt. D. Seymour, general secretary. The association consists of affiliated associations of honourably discharged soldiers who have served overseas. Local associations have been formed throughout New Zealand.

The origin, purpose, and proposals of the association its drawn up by the executive are as follow: —

Origin,—The founders of the associativa were returned" soldiers, who, having taken up arms against a foreign foe, had. recognised the right of the State to require from them as citizens_ such service." Their purpose in founding the association was to emphasise and establisn the consequent responsibility of the Stato to Drovide for those who suffered disability or loss in 6uch a case. The association has been established since the problems involved in the repatriation of the returned soldier, first became manifest, and showed the absolute necessity for creating a representative body to preserve and give collective expression to the valuable experience of returned soldiers already repatriated, and to champion the cause of the soldier. The purpose of the association is the repatriation of the returned _ soldier. Broadly speaking*, the problems involved in repatriation reduce to the follow'"Ya) Tho re-establishment of the returned soldier in suitable emp (b) An efficient system of land sottle--10 (c)'" Assisting suitable returned soldiers to establish themselves in business. ' (d) Opportunity for the acquiring of homes by returned soldiers. In) Adequate pension for war disablement or loss, both in the case of soldiers and their dependants, and dependants of th m FaoUity T and encouragement to learn new trades or professions in order to O X O TrsrBTte8 T ten S towa4 repatriation is. the development of a « ense ° f ?3j 10 sponsibility in.even; returned Tho association claims to have made fi t) clubs 2"5 i tho discussion of repatriation bv tl e returned soldiers, and brinffi o ' T j„|,fq proper realisation not only of h as returned soldiers, but their duly as affirms the following proposals and principles, and.asks hat tho Government take steps to ,»e effect thereto. In arriving .at the conclusions set out, the ass^ ciatl °" C °"" eidered matters from a due sense of national welfare and the best interest* of or his dependant must in every ease look to tho State to recompense him for loss or disability caused through suvice That under no circumstances should tho State avoid its duty by delegating its responsibility to.' citizen organisations, e.g., patriotic societies. Recognition of tho Association.- Ihe association should be given opportunity to express its opinion on all proposed legislation affecting returned soldiois. Jhe association claims the right, as presenting honourably-discharged soldiers, to official recognition as the voice of the returned soldier. 'Hie .association impresses upon tho Government the urgency of perfecting a scheme of repatriation which will as far as possible cover every discharged soldier, and points out the 'value in this direction of collecting and recording the experience of uhirn.'d soldiers in regaining their pre-war ytaParliamentary Committee.—That a committee te set up forthwith to consider tho whole question of repatriation, and that such committee confer with the Returned Soldiers' Association. That such committee take evidence from .returned soldiers already repatriated, with a view to remedying defects m i.iie systems now in use. This committee to bo at work while the. Repatriation Department defined lielow is being set up. Minister of Benatriation—' 1 hat a Department ho created which will concern itself solely with tho question of repatriation. 'Such Department should I have at its disposal expert experience I and opinion In every branch of trade, profession, or business. The. associntion ! undertakes to supply tho Department. . vrith evidence showing how. the virions i systems work out in practice from the ! individual standpoint,'