RETURNED SOLDIERS MEETING

Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1930, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS MEETING

ADDRESS BY MR HAYDEN

At the Soldiers’ Hall last evening, Mr F. P. Hayden, President of the Canterbury Returned •Soldiers’ Association, by invitation, addressed a meeting of ex-servicemen regarding the aims and objects of the New Zealand Association. There was not a large attendance, the weather being unfavourable, a dozen in ail being present. Mr D. .1. Evans (President of the local Branch) presided and introduced the speaker who was welcomed to l lie district, and appreciation expressed of his interest in the returned soldier movement.

Mr l-Jayden spoke for about an hour outlining-.the work of-the Association. He said it had two sides, the social and service, the latter being the more important and crowning an interest in their former cobbers aird dependents. On the social .side the Association brought the men together again, and gave them an insight into what was being done and what required to lie done for the welfare of their cxcomrades. Their first care bad been the widows and fatherless. When the war ended there were 7,300 widows in New Zealand and 7100 fatherless children. The Association had taken up the case of. those affected, and had been responsible for many benefits accruing. -The time was passing on, and the children were growing up now and going.out into the world. The mothers were losing the pension as the children passed a certain ago, and the Association was stepping in where it could and assisting, besides taking a fatherly interest in the young people going out into the world to earn their living. This was a work which needed to be done, and in the centres special attention was being given to the matter.

The Association had been respon-' sible for bringing about many reforms regarding war pensions. There were oyer 20,000 ex-soldier pensions, and their position had been improved greatly by reason of the Association’s work. The Association had been responsible for the setting up of the Pensions Appeal Board, and in Canterbury 77 per cent, of the pensions refused by the War Pensions Board had now been granted through the Appeal Board. Mr Hayden gave several instances of success in that direction, mentioning specially the case of a

schoolmaster, a padre, a war widow and others. He went on-to-speak of the growing interest in Association work. Ex-servicemen were funding that men given a clean, bill of health when discharged, were now breaking down, and their cases had to be pro- ■ vided for. This called, for a revision of tlie law, and the Association worked in that direction. It had been specially successful ij.i securing from, the Rehabilitation Report .just brought down, many favourable) recommejidation.s for those broken in health, and with the full force of the ex-soldiers behind them,' the AGove'rniYient could he induced, to adopt the report, and meet the difficult cases dealt with. The annual meeting of the Association would be held in Jjune, and the report referred to would be specially under review. • Tlie- Association had. paid £IOOO towards the cost of tlie Commission in question,. so desirous were they to have the whole subject fully ventilated. The strength of the Association was increasing in all centres excepting Wellington, and the stronger their members the more influential their appeals. In the course of his remarks, Mr Hayden said the Association was there to maintain Anzac Day as a memorial -or their fallen comrades, and were opposed to the suggestion of tlie Vict o i.i College Students, that the com-

alien sheaid be dropped

This view endorsed by those present. hi ccil liiling Mr'Hayden spoke aho t '« number of general matters, and variu. s 'aids adopted by the Canterbury Branch 1 to promote the welfare of the men. He spoke of their benevolent fund to which a bequest of £3OO had been given, while an anonymous donor had handed in a cheque t)ir £I2OO. This money was being faithfully administered for the benefit of the needy. Regarding unemployment, Canterbury raised the record sum of over £IBOO bv the sale of poppies this year, and the money was being expended in .work for ex-soldiers. In addition the Government on the personal representations of the Branch, had placed a number of men in work. Unemployment was a serious problem in Canterbury hut the local Branch was grappling with it to the best advantage so far as ex-servicemen were concerned. \

At the close of the address a number of questions were asked, and information given on various points. Mr Hayden explained the procedure elsewhere regarding relief, administration of patriotic funds, conduct of funerals for deceased soldiers, and the use of funds derived from social functions. Mr A. C. Armstrong and others expressed pleasure and gratification at the information afforded, stilting the work of the Association was, an incentive for nil to participate in, and support was promised in that direction by “several present.

The Chairman stated a general meeting of the Hokitika Branch would he Held in the hall on Friday, sth. June at 8 o’clock, to enrol new members, and present a report and balance sheet (if ’ the position, elect an enlarged coimriiUtee of management, appoint officers, and generally extend