R.S.A. AND POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 196, 14 May 1919, Page 8

R.S.A. AND POLITICS

j■ a : I ■„.DISRUPTING SCHEME.ON FOOT. , \ Attempts are being made in various -parts of New Zealand , as in this ■ city to drag the Eeturned'Soldiers' AsI" ' ■ Bdciation on to the thorny ground of : party politics. At present the association i is 'noa-political' in its constitution, but i schemes are being pushed for the organist ing of returned soldiers into a political i body. This isnqt the firat time-such an ! attempt has been made, and on each ■ - occasion'the effort • has. been directed from ■■ behind a screen.' ' • :• 7 ■j The New Zealand .Eeturned Soldiers' Association's official. 9O n > "Qnick ;' March," explains the position in the May ■■' issue thus:. ; ;■■ "Returned men should be on guard i egainst , being drawn : into any movei inents by which political schemers maV < be hoping to benefit .themselves to the >■ detriment of the.JI.S..A. No person worthy ; of the respect of returned soldiers would I promote such a political organisation just ' before the Dominion Conference of the i N:Z.E.S.A. : It is well known that 'politi-. ' cal aotion'. is one of the most important i subjects on the order paper. This fact. [ has been published repeatedly in the daily : Press throughout the two islands. Therefore it seems that tho. political promoter :■ in Wellington hopes to influence return- .: «d soldiers before their delegates go to the i ■ conference. ! "Aβ 'Quiok March' | explained two v, months ago, nothing can be gained—but I ■"■■■ much can be lost—by wild, helter-skelters ; in. the political field. Tho- whole raatI ter will be thoroughly discussed at the i conference, in which returned soldiers' I ' associations of all districts will be able j. to voice their opinion through tlioir deleI <gates . ' ! : "Maintenance of unity ie tho most imi portent responsibility of the conference. ■ It ia a truism, which needs no elabora- ; tion of argument, that tho unity nicessary to ensure justice for returned 'eol- { diers and their dependants will disappear ; if the B.S.A. ■ becomes a political body j in the sense , in which- the word 'political' : is commonly understood in this country."