NEW ZEALAND R.S.A.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1933, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND R.S.A.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OPENED. f Per Presc Association— Copyright ) WELLINGTON, June 20. The seventeenth o ’annual ■ conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association wag- opened to-day, the delegates being welcomed to the city by the mayor (Mr Bislop). ' Sir Andrew Russell (Dominion President), was in the chair** and the actingPrime Minister (Mr J. G. Coates), attended the opening session as the representative of th r 6 Dargaville Assn. The Minister of Defence and Pensions (the Hon. J. D. Cobbe), was also' present. He, said that he was not a returned soldier, but lie was present at the suggestion of Mr Cc.»te.s becaur-e: of his direct interest in the affairs of the'Association. Be "referred to the work of disabled men. During his visit south, lie formed the opinion; that not enough was being done to display the goods made by disabled men, and as a result of representations to leading Christchurch retailers, arrangements' had been made to display the goods to the best possible advantage,.;: He felt that similar arrangements should be made in other centres. There was no reason why a big business should not be built

up. Sir Andrew Bussell, in the ■course of bis speech, s'id that in the matter of the rehabilitation of disabled men, there was no one in New /Zealand who took a keener or more sympathetic interest than Mr o°bbe and lie deserved the sincere thanks of all returned men. In Seconding the motion for the adoption of. the report Mr Lead ley (Christchurch), expressed the opinion that the increased membership 'was an indication' that ex-servicemen were awakening to the realisation that the organisation was vitally necessary to guard their welfare. He believed that there wn« no organisation in the country. which had done more to relieve unemployment, , a .nd he thought it a pity that these efforts were not more appreciated by the Unemployment Board. 'l'he report as a whole indicated that the fortunes of the Association were on the up grade, and he believed that they would continue to improve if members adhered to their high idea’s of comradeship and service. It was decided to send fraternal greetings to the New Zealand Red Gross Society expressing the appreciation of the work of that body in the interests of returned men and their dependents.