WARTIME ISSUES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20120, 14 December 1939, Page 4

WARTIME ISSUES

EX-SOLDIERS’ POLICY

CONFERENCE PROJECTED

GISBORNE R.S.A. AGREES

DISTRICT DEVELOPMENTS

The necessity of putting on record a clear statement of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association's views and policy in regard to outstanding war-time issues is becoming generally recognised by ex-servicemen throughout the Dominion, and it is proposed that a special Dominion council should lie held in February to decide what attitude should be adopted on certain problems which have come into the forefront recently.

The Gisborne district executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association last evening approved of the proposal to convene the conference, which will be held if a substantial majority of the branches throughout New Zealand adopt the suggestion of the national executive.

Those present at last night’s meeting were the president, Colonel R. F. Gambrill, Major A. S. Muir, and Messrs. G. Crawshaw, G. Bradley Smith', G. C. Jones, P. A. Gordon, A. Harries, A. R. Lange, P. W. Bus'hnell, W. Oakclen and A. H. Miller, secretary.

United Support Necessary

Correspondence from national headquarters on the proposed conference was read, and in the ensuing discussion there were raised a series of issues upon which it was felt the voice of the association should be heard, with the assurance that whatever opinion was voiced, it had the support of the great majority of returned men.

It was mentioned that district associations had refrained from expressing their individual opinions on national issues in recent months, leaving the representation of the ex-ser-vicemen on these matters to headquarters. The view was expressed that having accomplished much, and having the prospect of further heavy work on war-time questions, the national executive must feel that it needed an opportunity for consultation with delegates from the district branches.

In the correspondence from headquarters was a note of particular interest to Gisborne ex-soldiers. It concerned the action of the district association in offering its services to the men called up for service in this war; and the New Zealand executive recommended all district associations to follow the lead given from here. Reunion Profit Reported It was reported that the recent annual reunion, held in Show week, had provided a small surplus, this being the first for many years. The committee was complimented both on the financial success and on the general character of the gathering. A report was received concerning the Nuhaka reunion, attended by a delegate from the executive. The function had been most successful.

The Provincial Patriotic Council wrote indicating that it would be pleased to include a representative of the Returned Soldiers' Association in its personnel, and Colonel Gambrill was appointed by the committee.

The social committee was invited to recommend an appointment to the Gisborne Thirty-Thousand Club, to represent the ex-soldiers, this decision being made as a compliment to the work of the social committee in connection with functions arranged by the Thirty-Thousand Club The executive acknowledged donations of £2O from the social committee, and £5 from the Diggers’ Choir, to the fund from which comforts were provided for Diggers undergoing treatment in hospital. The value of this fund was emphasised by the secretary, who mentioned that many Diggers were not aware of the sources from which it drew support. The comforts made available from the fund were keenly appreciated, he added.