The Dominion FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1919. THE SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 304, 19 September 1919, Page 6

The Dominion FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1919. THE SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

' It has boon' made fairly plain during the last month or two that a critical stage lias been reached in the career of Che New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association. As it stands, the Association is an example of efficient organisation of which the soldiers of any country might be proud. .Thus far, at all events until very recently,,the great majority of its members solidly supported their officials in a policy of •'each for all." United internally and capably served by its national and district officials the Association has established itself in a position of great influence. Proof of the fact appeals not only in the numerous concessions it has from time to time received from the Government, but in the attitude of the general nublic towards returned soldiers. That attitude is best summed up as one of perfect readiness to meet.every reasonable claim that is made on behalf of the men who fought for their country. Efforts which have been made of late to convince _ returned soldiers that their _ just claims are in danger of being ignored are based either upon wilful disregard of the truth or failure to perceive it. Undoubtedly as matters stand these claims are freely recognised bv all sections of the community. An example of the esteem in which returned soldiers arc held was afforded the other day when additions were made to the Ministry. There are four returned .soldiers in the House of Representatives, and one of them belongs to the party in Yet, of three new Ministers appointed, two are returned soldiers. It i.« well within the facts to say that the people of the Dominion could not be better disposed than they are to freely and heartily concede all that returned soldiers are fairly entitled i to ask. The continuance of these conditions, satisfactory .alike to soldiers and to the-public, vis visibly threatened by the attempts that arc being made to divert the Association from the wise and well-consid-ered policy and procedure it has hitherto pursued. There is nothing meantime to suggest that such attempts arc favoured by more than a minority, but even a malcontent minority, if it were allowed to run* riot, would do irreparable harm in destroying the internal harmony _ of the Association and antagonising public opinion. The membership of the Association being wha,t it is, turbulent and unruly demonstrations like that which occurred a few days ago 'in Wellington, are bound to'split it into definitely opposed factions. Large numbers of returned soldiers all over the Dominion will refuse absolutely to associate themselves .with such tactics. Divisions which could not be healed are even more certain.to result if those members of the Association who are advocating "political action" ire allowed to have their way. This particular question is temperately discuss'ed by a returned soldier correspondent whoso letter appears in another column, and there is all possible weight in his contention that "this political wedge means the first split "and our (.the Association's] ultimate and final-disintegration." Many of the detail points raised by this correspondent are particularly pertinent. For instance, returned soldiers certainly ought to ask themselves where the funds arc to comb from that would be needed to convert into a political party machine an organisation that exists simply to promote the just claims of soldiers, irrespective of party or faction. Still more, they ought to consider what possible gain could accrue to them from referring to a political gamble claims which every political party will feel bound _ to respect so long as the Association retains its non-political character. The strongest argument against'

the "political action" advocated by thoso members of the Association who aim in fact at party action is that it would set a period to the effective form of political influence which from the outset has stood the Association in good stead and enabled it to secure a long list of concessions. The Association has repeatedly exercised its influence in political circles in making representations to the Government and Parliament, and, with the sympathy of the whole country behind it, its representations have carried all possible weight. Such results could not In", attained by political action in the party sense for the simple reason that the Association, in these conditions, could .neither maintain its internal unity nor retain general public support. The one common interest uniting its members is that of soldiers entitled _ to secure their rn-establishmcnt in civil life on. fair conditions. On general political questions thev hold naturally, since they constitute a great. part of the young manhood of the country, all sorts of_ opposing _ views. No other conclusion is possible_ in tho circumstances than that political action on the lines now advocated by some of its members would disrupt and ultimately destroy the Association. In dispassionately considering what their Association has already accomplished and what it may yet accomplish, returned soldiers ought to find ample reasons for maintaining the non-political character which alone will enable it to pursue its presents useful activities. The past work of the Association is reviewed at some length in a statement by its general-secretary (Me. Skymour) which appears to-day, and' as a whole the statement makes impressive reading. There is no doubt that by persistent and painstaking efforts the working members of the Association have in some instances converted public opinion and so rallied it in support and favour of dpecific proposals as to compel the Government to make concessions' from which at first it was strongly averse. No mere recapitulation of benefits gained, however, does full justice to the work of the Association and the high deI gree to which its organisation has been raised. As Me. Seymour observes, it exercises ajjreat and continually increasing influence in favour of the soldier. While it has secured important detail concessions its methods have inspired respect and notably quickened the public sense of responsibility where questions of repatriation are concerned.