RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 206, 26 May 1919, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS

I ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW ZEALAND

* ASSOCIATION

SITUATION REVIEWED

The third annual report of the New Zealand Keturncd Soldiers' Association, to be presented at tho annual conferenco at Christohurch to-day, states that the . executive ' has reviewed impartially the present situation, and on the basis of its experience indicates what it believes to ibe the course which the association should ;follow in.. the troublesome times ahead .and which will no doubt continue for some years. > ."The. outstanding event of the past year has been the successful termination of tho war, towards which otiv country has not failed to render its due contribution, and in whioh all the membeis of the assooiation have a unique and personal concern; The returned soldier is also a citizen, and while whole-heartedly joining in national celebrations of joy and thankfulness at tho coming of Tieace, his rejoicing cannot but k> temperod by thoughts which are alien to those who know not war at first band. Among his menioriea.bf battlee fought, hardships endured, dangers and difficulties encountered and overcome, inoet prominent must always be that of friendships severed and comrades slain. No returned soldier can fail to realise that only bj happy chance he, too, has not'been numbered, among the dead, and he would be less than human if he failed >to realise the responsibility which he owes to the dependants of his comrades. This responsibility oovolving collectively upon laturned soldiers, it is the work of the association to shoulder, and the mlfilment of our. obligation demands the best service from the heart, head, and hand of every'soldier. •

Association's Memborship. ' "Since the Auokland Conference some seventeen local associations have been formed, making a total of. forty-five. There are probably some seventy centres in New Zealand sufficiently large to warrant the formation of an association and this work will.be among the first duties of the organisers suggested. During the year the membership of lo.nai associations has grown roughly from 10,000.t0 25,000 active, members. This giowih is one .which exceeds some very sanguine expectations. It indicates that there is a vital need for a.n association, and that returned soldiers realiso this. But, on the other hand, it "is clear, from the tact that numbers of returned men have not been enrolled, that there have beeu serious weaknesses in Organisation—weaknesses which we. certain to becoino more apparent as the war atmosphere wears away and the status of the returned soldier as nuch declines in public estimation. That this .will be the enso no sane thinker tan doubt—the preliminary signs are already .with us—and the prospect must be faced without fear or recrimin^t'nn.

"In times, of war, with every predisposition of tho-public in his favour, tho soldier is in some respeots living in a fool's paradise, but'with' the return of peace and the diversion of public enthusiasm and effort from war objects demanding a measure of self-sacrifice, back to the sordid paths of economic oompetition, the awakening of the 'soldier is likely to be rude. Immediately the common danger of war has been removed a struggle ' begins for the occupation or social vantage points, and since it is the soldier who has been most completely displaced, it is he who will have the greatest difficulty in recovering his position. The primary responsibility for assisting the soldier'is one whioh rests -upon the Government, but a duty elso-lies with the association—a. duty towards the 6oldier to see that his rights ate safeguarded, and a duty to the country to assist in the discharge of 'the national obligation.

:- "The returned soldier should realise that, having fulfilled bis duty to the country as a soldier, there still remaine: • (a) His fluty to his comrades and the dependants of his comrades. ■ (b) His duty as a citizen to take a worthy part in fulfilling the destiny - of his country. ..'As to, his rights ae a returned soldier, these- are assured provided he backs up his association, bni it cannot be too strongly urged on every 6oldier (especially a disabled man) to uso every enrleavour to pla.ee himself in suoh a. position that he does not have to Tely upon' State assistance. A,progressVe "national policy of Government should make New Zealand a place of opportunity for all—let' every returned soldier train himself to be ready when his opportunity comes.

:i, ....'"''">.■'.'.,'„*. othflr Matters. "Passages for Fiancees.--In many cases soldiers have left finnoees in England, and have returned to' New Zealand in order, to prepare a home before marriage. In suoh ■ cases, however; the regulations provide for passages under certain conditions, so that whereas the cost of pnsaage fox a wife amounts to £1, in the case of a fiancee the , amount which a soldiar if. required to find is £,%. The association has made representations to the Minister that, subject to necessary precautions, the fiance.o should for passage purposes l>9 placed on the eaine basis'ns a wife, and this proposal has been agreed to. i

Eailway Passes.—ltepresentations have Men made to the Defence Department that the period within which tho free railway pass should he available should be .oxtendod. from three months to a year. .At the present duto a reply from the Department is availed. "Pension to Wives.-Thc association has represented to the Minister of Defence that_ tho present arrangements by which a infe can apply for a pension only on condition thai marriage haa taken place within two years, of the return of tho soldier should be extended to cover oil marriages. It has been represented to the Minister that particularly in the case of incapacitated .men (ho finding of a partner is a much more difficult task than in the case of fit men, and the. man who has , become incapacitated by war service is such as should be encouraged to marry. The Minister h.vs undertaken to review the situation with the object of (( providing for deserving cases. .' Accumulated Holiday Leave.—4. large number of railway men who left with tho Expeditionary Force have complained that a period of special leave granted at the time of tho armistice has not been included in the period of accumulated holiday lenvo , which they were promised by the Department on enlisting, and have further pointed out that those whose efforts finally resulted in the armistice are precisely the men who are not participating in its benefits. ■ The matter has been exhaustively argued with the Railway .Department, and is at present in abeyance pending a reconsideration of tho wholo position in reference to the conditions of pay to which Government employees who served with Iho Expedition, ory Force should be entitled. "Widowed Mothers' Allowance.—The allowance pai<l by the Department to widowed mothers will ba considered in detail at the conference. During the past year the association was able to secure that the allowance to widowed mo then of married soldiers should ,bo increased to XI Is. per week, and has further represented that the widowed 'jiolhor (otaiir dependent should be placed oijj the eam'o financial basis as a wife.

''Tcchnical Instruction. --Under the administration of the Department of liepatriation an amount of £\ per week as Joclginft allowance was granted under certain circumstances to soldiers receiving instruction at technical schcois, but this was discontinued during the holidays. On representations of the tssociation the Department agreed to extend this amount to cover holiday periods. "Deduction from Pensions.—The custom of the Department in jsking 6oldicrs to allocate to the Department a proportion of their pension in liquidating any sums 'due to tho Department has caused a eood deal of nnnoynncß is returned soldiers. The association mr.de strong representations on tho matter to the Department, and is glad to record that the practice has been discontinued. Tho balance-sheet shows the finances cf the association to be i,n n satisfactory condition.