RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 305, 20 September 1919, Page 2

RETURNED SOLDIERS

— RELATIONS WITH THE PRESS - ATTACK ON' REPORTERS REGRETTED An adjourned general meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association was held in tho Concert Chamber 61 the Town, Hall last night. Mr. J. D. Harper presided over an attendance of about 500 members. .Before the meeting proceeded to consideration of tho business set down on the order paper; tho chairman ashed that unanimous support be' accorded to a resolution that references to the Press representatives at tho meeting on September It were made by a minority of thoso present, and that tho integrity of tho reporters was not in any why qiiestloncd by the U.S.A. The .resolution added that the'association regretted that any attack should/ have been made', on the representatives of the Press present, and trusted that the good relations existing between the W.R.S.A. and the local Press would continue. . Speaking to tho motion, Mr. Harper, said it was unfortunate that at the lost, meeting certain speakers,, in criticising tho opinions oppressed by the Press, had really attacked tho integrity of the, reporters of the Press. That was ■ most regrettable, for the Press had always ■. given the returned soldiers a fair and square deal. That was his experience, at any .Tate. '. ' " Mr. A. B. Sievwright seconded tho motion. In doing so, he asked that tno Press should help tho returned soldiers, and'always give them a, fair deal. Upturned soldiers were going",to'place.their opinions before tho country, aud all that was asked was that justico should- ,tu given to them. 1 A speaker criticised the motion tis being too much of an apology. As far as the statements made by certain erratib individuals were concerned the meetingowsd the Press an apology, but ,tho Press had made misrepresentations, j regarding the returned soldiers' actions' and that was what ho complained about Mr. A. Kylo, who said he moved |tho' motion at the previous meeting". that ■ Tub Dominion reporter be'..excluded, pointed out that bo meant to cast ho reilections on any individual reporter. In that respect he repudiated certain statements that had been attributed to him, nnd ho emphatically denied that he ureed that the Press "Should bo kicked out.' Tho motion was then put and carried unanimously. A Personal Explanation, Mr. C. W. Batten, District Repatriation Officer, asked leave to'refer-'to & statement that had been made at-a previous meeting. ' He said that Mr.' t\ B. Sievwright had remarked: "l r ou got oil, the executive to take a Government job." Mr. Sievwright:-1 J'iso to.a point of order. What I said, I asked in the form of a question. I said: "You got off the executive to take a Government job, didn't you?" A membor roso and moved that Mr. Batten bo not 'beard. -■ This was seconded, but tho chairman i ruled that Mr. Batten had a right to mako a statemont in the way of personal explanation. Mr. Batten said; I toe*' a Government job for which I am being paid by tho country. I took that job alter consulting the executive and the New. Zealand Association. I took that job, and I remained on that executive. ,\ went to the conference in Christchuroh .arid-I; was elected to the executive again.- 1 don't want to start a discussion, but the question as to-whether a man receiving Government pay should, be on the executive will bo discussed lator. All, I. want to know is whether Mr: Sievwright realises •that what ho said is incorrect, arid will he withdraw it? Mr. Sievwright 6aid that ho had asked Mr. Batten the question referred 'to' above, but lie maintained that tho question had not been answered. Several members rose to opeat, but the chairman refused to allow further, discussion. ■■ • The meeting .then.proceeded to-the election of fivo members of the Clubhouse Society-Committee, and thrco members of the House ComuiitteOi.' A number/ of nominations were handed in, and tlw chairman announced that the result ot tho ,ballot would be declared next week.-

RECENT ATTACK ON THE PRESS

.. U.S.A. VOICES ITS REGRET. -.' At a' meeting of the committee of the' Wellington Returned Soldiers' Associa'" lion, held on Wednesday evening, tho following resolution was carried unanimously:.-- ... That a letter he sent to each, of the Wellington daily papers elating , that tho references to the Press representatives at the E.S.A. meeting on I'riday, September 11, were made' and supported by a minority of thoso present; that tno integrity of the Press ■ representatives. is not iri any way questioned by tho Wellington U.S.A.; that a resolution• was passed by tho meeting sulisequeni to tho voluntary withdrawal of tho Press' representatives asking them to remain; that tlio association regrets that any ■ attack should have been' made on the representatives .present, and .trusts that the good relations existing botween the Wellington U.S.A. and tho local Press will continue . '