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Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1930, Page 4

Tub meeting held on Wednesday evening at the Soldiers’ Hall in the in- . # terests of returned soldiers should have the effect of stimulating greater interest in the movement. Mr Hayden, of the Canterbury Branch, is evidently emhiied with the values and yjrtiicw of the organisation, and he was able to communicate his feelings to his audience. The speech lias had a quickening effect, and when the general meeting of the local Branch is held next Friday that result should ho manifested by a larger and wider interest ip the affairs and work of the Branch. Tho debt due to tbe ex-servicemen is one which the nation declared it never could repay, yet following the war period, it has been left to the ox-service-men’s organisations to endeavour to secure something on account of that debt, At the outset the nation' was very prodigal in rather ill-advised ways to meet the position, and ihough there was a lavish expenditure on the part , of the country, the results were not what wins expected. New Zealand might have moved more circumspectly, and it would have been well had tho Government the advice of the soldiers’ organisation to assist in directing the way that relief and recognition should ! go. Since the fervour of the early | days of the aftermath of the war has died down, the ex-servicemen's organisation has come more Into the picture, and it is now the main motive power in seeing to the necessities of the var-

ions cases cropping up. There arc many sad sales to tiie aftermath of tiie war so far as flic service men are tvi.icorneu. lliose broken in health, the widowed and fatherless, have special claims which must be attended to. Nowadays unemployment is so rife and

e-.-sern.omen a.o among tiie victims. Much is being done for tiie victims of mist lor tune uy tiie organisation, and Hie stronger Unit is, tiie more inJluontial it will he. Parliament, however, Inis never ignored the claims of the

servicemen, but is necessary to present tiio.se claims in concrete form and in a reasonable way. T lie Returned Soldiers’ Organisation is the best medium to periorni that duty, and its care and attention to tiie ii.aneis arising is to he welcomed. Mr Hayden indicated that tiie Canterbury Branch was doing very practical work of a philanthropic character. This naturally fcli on fit men, and lie said it was the duty of the well men to take charge of their unfortunate eobbeis. it was tiie rule at the front, lie said, never to let a cobber down, and the •same golden rule should apply in civil life. An active branch here could do a great deal for the needy. It was explained there were families who should be helped and the welfare of the wives and children should be attended to. There will be useful social service for the branch to perform, and the local ex-servicemen should unite to do that duty. ’There are excellent quarters here at their command, and we are sure public sympathy and support will be behind any well directed movement to the kind indicated.