CORRESPONDENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1932, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

THE HOKITIKA R.S A. (To the Editor.) Sir,—l desire a little space in your valuable paper in answer to Mr Armstrong’s criticism of Mr Dade. Now, Sir, I see Mr Armstrong is trending on the tail of Mr Bade’s coat. Mr Bade certainly was defeated for his position at the last meeting of the Executive o: the B.S.A. But. Why 1* Simply because Mr Bade was up against the heads and perhaps knew too much of .what was going on and they knew he was straight enough to expose them which lie has dene, and done very well. You will remember, Mr Armstrong, when Mr Paterson, _ during icfreshments at the last annual meeting, referred to Mr Bade as a great worker and how he was always ready to assist in any good cause. $

Now, Mr Armstrong, you are doing well out of the Returned-Soldiers’ Association. Likewise Mr Paterson. I)o you think it is fair that you and Mr Paterson should reap all' 1 the plums from the B.S.A. tree while fellow Diggers have to put up with green gooseberries. Mr Bade is in the same line of business as the secretary. Don’t you think Mr/ Bade is entitled to a fair share? Or is the R.S.A. for the benefit of the secretary and president. When Mr Cooper asked at the last annual meeting, regarding prizes for euchre tournaments, if the returned soldiers in business got a fair isliaro Mr Paterson replied "Yes’’, and at once closed the subject, Then Mr Armstrong blames Mr Bade for steal* ing some of his thunder. -a Well, Sir, it was Mr Bade’s suggestion to myself and a number of other Diggers six months ago that membership fees should he reduced, and, at the last meeting of the executive it was decided to withhold the great news until the smoke concert. (What a bombshell for the hoys!) I don’t suppose, Mr Armstrong it was ever mentioned to issue free passes to re reunion to ex-Diggers who are depending.on the dole for a living, instead 1 of sending out circulars informing them “Admission by ticket only.’’ In other words: “If you have not 2/6, we .don’t want you, as the person who supplies the biscuits and Cheese has a heavy duty placed upon him.” Ra-unions, I understand; are to bring the hoys together, to talk of old times. What should it matter ■if we are down “and out? We were all the same in the trenches, so come along Diggers, your cobbers want to see you> But No! There are only complimentary tickets lor the stay-at-homes, who will occupy the floor telling you what great soldiers you, were or perhaps give you a message from the. spirits—l doi/t mean the spirits that decorate the table where tiie heads sit.

In conclusion)- Mr Editor, I thank Mr Bade for the standing he lias taken, and assure him that he has the feelings of ,all right thinking returned soldiers. Thanking you for your valuable space, I am, etc., “ANZAC.” Hokitika, 22/7/82, MR BfIPE REPLIES. (To the Editor.) ■ Sir, —Kindly allow me space in your valued columns to reply to Mr Armstrong, President of the R.S.A. Mr Armstrong is evidently sore because J dared to let the public and many outside Diggers know a feiv facts. Firstly, he wants to know why I didn’t give vent to my grievance while a member of the executive. When Mr Paterson called repeatedly at my shop on the Tuesday and' Wednesday following the annual meeting and attempted to condole with me about being off the.

Committee,-1 stated, as 1 had already

done at the annual meeting, that .7. was pleased to be off the committee, as my health was not too good, and I could uot always attend the meetings,

but J would work in the interests of the R.S.A. as I had previously done. Those at the annual meeting (and Mr

Armstrong was one of them) heard me make those statements., In the face of these facts why should he try to give the returned soldier, and the public generally the impression that 1 have written to the press out of spite. People who are acquainted with me know that 1 would not stoop to petty spite and that my ideals may he much broader than those of Mr Armstrong, otherwise he would not look at things from such a narrow and small-minded viewpoint. When Mr Paterson tried to make himself appear sorry that. 1 was off the committee J mi id: “I’m quite satisfied. Why worry. You have a very good man in my place.” He replied, “Oh, I don’t know. He might be, but I think he’d be a fellow tliai would sift into things.” I answered, “That’s tlie very type of man we want on the Executive,” and I think here I. was voicing, the opinion of every fairminded Digger, i a ked Mr Paterson on, different occasions to get some of the prizes from my shop but lie refused, .and it wn„ not until after 1 was off 'the Executive that he told me ho had given orders to Millers’ Ltd. It was tlrnn T considered it high time to let t!ie returned men as a body know exactly how matters were being carried out in connection with the R.S.A. Hence my reason for the medium of the press which has evidently so ruffled Mr Armstrong. He writes that “where and how Mr Paterson purchased the prizes did not concern tiie Executive.” This'statement shows that he, as President, either does not know his job or does riot want to know it.—-You see it meant fair business orders for bim

As overdone will agree it is tile committee's duty to give tlie instructions and the secretary’s to carry them out.

Again he says “Nor did ,Hr Bade at any time offer any''assistance to the Secretary.’] This is an uncalled for untruth, I not only offered, but also gave niy assistance, and gave it willingly, in helping to get the tables ready' and ,in , generally preparing the hall during the ‘ earlier stages of the euchre tournaments. ’ At those particular times Air Armstrong himself was conspicuous by his absence.- I would like to state here, in fairness to myself; that I have willingly assisted Mr Paterson in connection with dances and other, functions and whenever,X could, while a member, of the Executive. It is only natural for Mr Armstrong to uphold the secretary in his actions, as they have been both woriring into each other’s' hands for alh those love,y‘; “plums”, that “Onlooker” •men- , With reference to Air 'Evans, the returned soldiers and tine public generally cun judge for. themselves as to whether I, have; received' fair play. They don’t want a man like Air Armstrong with his' wonderful fail l play business qualities to tell them what to think about the matter, He is patting ME Evans oil the back now but he forgets the remarks lie made about that same gen.tletnanl and his dealings with th e -R,S.A. in his own shop to two customers on the morning of a certain Borough election.. With regard to Air' Armstrong's “distinct grievance” iagaicst ni e for letting the ■ returned men' know that the membership fee was ss, well, Diggers, you got - the “lightning , which travels quicker than thunder and I’m left where ff started with nothing, On* reading Hr ArnHstroiiga -letter I felt, highly amused to kpow. that he looks upqn the affairs of the -'R.S.A. as “purely a domestic matter,”- Perhaps he,;:has a meaning of hij s ow.it for the woj-d “domestic,” Again I was “dropped” from the Executive as though my character were notorious, -"I would like to state here to thos. e who may be misled on. this matter that the secretary inforpied me that there wer e at the annual mopting five members with an even number of votes and I was one vote behind them jn .spite of the fact that I had a.sked' severail men not to vote for m 6 but to vote for r nother gentleman whom I was anxious to see on the committee.

No thank you, Air Armstrong, I don’t, wish to accept any suggestions from you re keeping silent about unfair dealings. Its a- very fin© quality to brim/ to bear on one’s dealings with otliei people. Perhaps you could do with a little more of that quality yourself.

Now, Diggers, there are many of you like rnyisqH not good speakers in public. W e haven’t what the slang boy: would say as much “cheek” as Mr Armstrong, but because we cannot get up and speak

in a hold manner why should w e b-

cried down by one who may not be the most •scrupulous person in tflie world. Personally I have suffered, and still suffei\_ from the effects of gassing and she]’

■dieck, etc., and I know that many of you are in a similar state. Still, all .should get a fair deal. Why should we be cried down. As I stated in my previous letter, Mr Armstrong backed up the untruthful statement made bv

the secretary. Is he then the type of man that should be holding the highest office in our R.S.A.? 'Here I would like to make it clear that he does rot hold (this office by the voice of the returned men generally. What happened at the\meeting, which was not a large and ' wholly '• representative one, was that one gentleman was nominated for the seat but he declined in favour of Mr Armstrong. Th : s nomination

•"’s second’d and no further nominations wer e called, as thbse gentlemen willing and suitable for the position wore absent from tho meeting. T venture to say that had it been known (previous to that meeting that Mr Evans intended resigning, a far-greate-number of returned men would hove rolled up to the meeting. T ment'on this as several returned men have lv'C'i

"’’dvr the imp Tension that. Mr Armstrong '"is voted to the President’s seat l>v the majority of returned ''eldiers. To

us in the (highest office o,f the D.S.A. wo want <i gentleman of ster--I’i'fr riffer who w|’] not sto- p’ J o anything rai'ii’i or unfair, but who wir "I'v the g nno to\each one of es—a ’Digger w e can look 'up to with prole in our hearts. Well, let us get him.