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Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1931, Page 4

Tun local branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association is meeting tonight under congenial circumstances to hold a re-union. Throughout New Zealand of late the returned men are co-operating more tnd more because they find the need of unity to help their less fortnuato comrades. New Zealand played a great part in the war for so small a country. There was no thought of equality of sacrifice in those days. Hundreds of men found it incumbent on themselves to do their best, and they did it nobly and well. Perhaps the most untoward part of the aftermath of the war, is to find so. many men breaking down in health now thirteen years after the conflict has ended. This could not have been foreseen,-and unfortunately very little provision is available now for such cases. Besides, there is always the difficulty in convincing the authorities as to the cause of the breakdown. But in most cases, it is conceivable very' 5 ' 1 readily that the rigors of war service undermined the constitution and laid the foundation for the phvsicial weakness which ensued. There is the need to impress the authorities with the facts, and the soldiers’ organisation can do much useful work in that direction. Many hundreds of returned men are among the workless in New Zealand to-day, and in the centres particularly, the organisations are doing good work meeting all cases of hardship to the best advantage. Locally, something has been done to help with funds in regard to employment, but more is required to he done. A welfare branch among the returned men could do much to relieve hardship and even want, bv active work among some of the families. There ds this much useful social work which can he done, and doing it, will well justifv the existence of the organisation. The soldiers look longingly to Hie accumulated canteen funds for further montarv help, but we may he sure the trustees are alive to their responsibilities and will be ready to assist to the fullest extent of the readily available funds. A certain reliance must he placed on their own efforts to raise or provide money to help in. the right direction, and continuing their organisation in philanthropise work as in the past, rea.dv public support will he forthcoming always.