CONSTANT WATCH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20120, 14 December 1939, Page 16

CONSTANT WATCH

NEW ARMY'S WELFARE DOMINION R.S.A. ACTIVE REINFORCEMENT PROBLEM NATIONAL SERVICE PLEA (Per Press Assoeiution.) WELLINGTON, this day. ■'Since (lie outbreak of the war the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association has striven to do whatever lay in its power to help in the tremendous task that lies ahead of New Zealand as a co-partner in the British commonwealth of nations,” said the Hon. W. Perry, president of the association, in the course of a statement yesterday. “First and foremost, the association has taken an active interest in the welfare of the men of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, amongst whom were to be found many men who had served in the Great War. The association feels that its experience and advice should be useful to the new army, and has adopted the role of an elder brother to the men of that army. “Representations on many subjects, particularly pensions, pay and allowances, patriotic funds and wet canteens have been made to the authorities. “The association holds,” said Mr. Perry, “that all the benefits of the war pensions legislation passed during and since the Great War should be made available to men now serving, and to this end it is making representations to the Government in respect of certain anomalies found to exist in the pensions legislation of last session. It is hoped that these anomalies will be removed when Parliament re-assembles in February." Problem of Reinforcements After detailing what the association had done in connection with benefits for the troops, and urging that a Canteen Fund Board should be set up comprising representatives of the Navy, Army, Air Force and the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the statement continues: “The question of obtaining adequate reinforcements for the second New Zealand Expeditionary Force is causing the association grave concern. The present indications are that the voluntary system of recruiting will not provide the reinforcements required. “At the last annual general meeting of the council of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, held three months before the outbreak of war, the association unanimously declared its support of the principle of compulsory universal national service, even in peace time. The necessity is even greater now. It is felt that the fighting men should not be asked to make all the sacrifices and that there should be, as .far as is humanly possible to achieve it, equality of sacrifice by the protected and the protectors. The association will strive to the utmost to ensure that adequate reinforcements will be available and that the whole community will bear its share cf the burden of the war. The men of the new army may rest assured that, both here and abroad and after their return, their welfare will have the unremitting attention of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association.”