RETURNED SOLDIERS AND SECOND DIVISION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 219, 5 June 1918, Page 7

RETURNED SOLDIERS AND SECOND DIVISION

Referring to a statement credited to Mr. Batten, president of tho .Returned' Soldiers' Association, to tho effect that tho Second Division League had declined to assist in securing retrospection in regard to the increased rates of allowances, Mr. R. A. Armstrong, president of tlie Second Division League, si.vs that tho Returned Soldiers' Association has never officially approached the leaguo 011 tho subject. Ufficers of the two .organisations have discussed this and other matters in unofficial conversations, and tho Second Division League officials,, with their knowledge- of the difficulty of - getting any proposals through Parliament, have itdvised tho officials of tho Returned Soldiers' Association to prepare a schemo for the practical application of the principle of 'retrospection, and clearly indicated that they had every contidenco that the league as a wholo would support any sound and reasonable proposal brought iorward. -So tar ns tho league is aware, however, the association has not devised any scheme, and it has never officially approached the league with any proposals for concerted action. As indicated by a resolution recently passed by tho National jUxecutivo, the Second Division League was always .desirous of co-operating with tiio jßeturned Soldiers' Association, and at its first Dominion Conference had sent an invitation to the association's executive to be present. As a result of this, Mr. Seymour, the R.S.A. secretary, had attended, nnd briefly addressed the, delegates. As indicating the bona-fides uf the league's feelings towards returned men, Mr. Armstrong pointed to the fact that the membership of the leaguo was open to any returned soldier honourably discharged i'rom tho Forces. It had always been realised that the experience they had gained should bo of valuo to the men wlio liad to go. "Jt is greatly to be regretted:'' said Mr. Armstrong, in conclusion, "that the Returned Soldiers' Association should have been led i.nto asFailing the Second Division League; but it is evidently duo entirely to misunderstanding. There is plenty of scope for the two organisations, and it is neudless for me to say"that the league has already more than justified its existence. Wo hope that where co-operation may be necessary in the future that it will bo readily forthcoming on either side; but in any case the Second Division Leaguo' will bo no parly to playing into tho hands of any influences that may liko to see the two. organisations tearing cacli other to.pieces. The league frankly and fully' recognises the valuo of tho services already rendered to tho country by those who are now members of the ■Returned Soldiers' Association, and would point to tho fact that ,the league in its turn is engaged in a great national work in preaching the 'gospel of the duty of the man who doesn't have to go."