RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 112, 5 February 1920, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS

. .. ♦ MEETING OF ASSOCIATION i ELECTIONS TO EXECUTIVE A meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association was held last c-ven-.ing", Mr. J. 1). Harper occupying tho . chair, There was n fair attendance of ' .members,- and on the platform were ' Messrs. J. I. Fox (Into manager of tho : Wellington Returned Soldiers' Club) and Mr. T. long (Auckland Association). -*:■ Gratuity Anomalies. - : The following- were elected to fill vacancies on the committee:—Messrs, W. Hardhara, V.C., J. I. Fox, and M. Bad-- ■ ' ger. • .; The -secretary (Mr. I!. J. F. Aldrich) reported on the matter of anomalies in -. the regulations regarding ' war gratuities. A/ deputation had waited on the Eon. Minister of Defence (Sir , Miles Allen), and as a result of a. discussion -a committee, consisting of the officer in charge of the War Expenses Branch, the Director of Pea Records, and a representative of tho Returned Soldiers' Association, had been formed to rons'der 'all alleged anomalies. It vas not certain if the Departmental nffbers ruen- . tionod'would be on the committee, but -.it was certain that the U.S.A. -,\\>uld be "represented. All members wero pdvised that any complaints iexpecting eratui- ' ties should be forwarded fo the.secretory of the local association. United Action Required, Mr. Long extended to Wellington mem. bers fraternal greetings from the Auck.land Association. He said that he was Dot go\ng to allow parodnlism to c-i.ter into the work of tho association, ire stressed the necessity for united nrHon in fighting for tho Returned ■ Soldiers' Association, and ho deprecated the idea of a quarrel between individual associn-

Hons. Looking at the work done by the organisation, the speaker claimed that the association had justified its -xistp-i'-o without a doubt. The .wist work of the association should be recognised hy cvnry returned man in N'ew Zealand. The association was fighting for the men in' the mental asylums, the f.B. e.i=e.s, and the limbless men, and: it. vns (lis duty ofi the organisation to safeguard their .■lnterests. (Applause.) The • ssnnintion ■was deeply concerned in the composit'on of the committee of inriuiry that was to investigate conditions aboard the Eua- . liine, ami was watching closely Hie in- '. tereste of tho men affected, He dpwibed ' the conditions existing on the ship as ' "hellish." In conclusion, lie urged, tpnn those present to fight for the dependants of those who had given their (.11—tho limbless and tho maimed. World-wide Comradeship. i; Mr. Fox. who was greeted with ; p-1 > planse, said that he had suspected the 1 happenings in Wellington. He regretted very much 'ndeed the turn of events, c No man could r.ny what the R.S.A. had j 1 achieved—it would take, volumes and i , Tolumes to Tecord the energy spent in i forwarding tho R.S.A. movement, 'n e England, South Africa., and Australia there was a desire to pflilinto.' to reain- ( tain tho bond of comradeship. His fi opinion was that the association vasgo- j ing to live.. a,nd not only live, but achieve j •far srrealer things than ever »o»ore. v .(ADokuse.) , ~ The chairman announced that it was nronosed to hnvo Ti'sits from other centres periodically, a.« it -vas considered that they were beneficial to the interests „ of tho organisation. Upon the motion of Mr. Af. Badger, ' it was decided to invite information regarding all returned soldiers suffering J-' from influenza. The Men Who Break Down. ' 'Mr! J. M'Kenzie moved that steps ho i s .teken to obtain information respecting j t 'sndden deaths of''returned poldiers, # and v of-cases of suicide of ex-soldiers,.'with a o view to holding an inquiry. Hi? point c was that men wero being discharged by ti the Medical Department. ; s fit who were ], not really fit, and the result was that p as soon as they took up vorlc they ex- j, perienced a return of their war indis- a Eosition. Many men were not Veally c >arded. but simply examined, and then, }, if found fit, discharged, but therewere - D ' men who had suffered fi r, m some disease s ; or other discharged as lit, and'ns soon as they took np hard work it was a case of "sudden death of a soldier."

Mr. Fox expressed , the opinion Hint it-would be invaluable if S'ime organisation or institution was established where a returned discharged soldier c uld be examined periodically to ascertain if lie was fit mid well, and not developing pny war convolaint or diffuse. Mr. M'Konzie's motion wan carried.

Complaint about the treatment of troops on transports was made liv Mr. MTvenzie, who considered 'hat it was scandalous. While, the shim were iaden witli meat, cheese, and other produce, the food for tlii troops ■ was disgusting. ■Tie recommended that an innnir\' shon'd be held to sheet home the blame. Fis contention was that those running tho

shins -were exploiting the "Government, and serving up to the 'loops the i orst possiblo food. After further discussion, it was decided to urge headquarters of the U.S.A. to ask tho Government to hold an inquiry into the running of ihe transports.