WIDER SCOPE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 127, 29 April 1940, Page 6

WIDER SCOPE

NEW R.S.A. MEMBERS. PART IN PRESENT WAR. “The outstanding event of the year 1939-40, which we now have to review, was the outbreak of war. Some may ask in what way this affects our association. It means, first, that a fair number of our own men will be proceeding overseas with the New Zealand Forces; next, that those who cannot go away may be called upon as individuals because of previous experience to undertake special farms of home service in order to enable remforcements to be sent to join our Expeditionary Force. This may call upon us to make further sacrifices, and from the splendid results of the late Prime Minister’s appeal for the Reserve II we are satisfied the returned soldiers will not be found wanting. In fact, if the Reserve were only encouraged more than it is at the piosent time, the response would be easily doubled.” Thus states the president (Mr B. J. Jacobs) of the Palmerston North R.S.A. in his report to be presented to the annual meeting of members. , . “There arc, however, two far more important aspects that confront us as an association,” the report proceeds. First, the New Zealand R.S.A. has over the years been busily engaged in establishing and zealously guarding the interests of the ex-servicemen. Our national organisation has already entered upon the task of similarly acting on behalf of those who now follow in our footsteps. Even nt this early date a considerable number of satis! actory results in this regard have been achieved but there remains a lot to be done. This should be a matter of gratification to our own members, as also an oncouragcment both to those who actually have enlisted or proceeded on overseas service and to those, who may haie to go in the event of the war continuing. The present programme of the R. S . A r includes all those aspects ro cardin' l ' the interests of the new crop of ‘Diggers’ that have characterised its efforts in the past. “Secondly, and perhaps the greatest effect on our association arising from the outbreak of war and the despatching of our young men overseas, is that the life of the association must be increased; that is. of course, as we expect,, the younger men now to bocome returned soldiers and accept membership in our organisation At the present time they are not eligible lor membership, but nt annual meetinrr a notice of motion will be considered’ to overcome this. Then, assuming their membership, we face with con mlenco the fact that they will be ready and willing to take o'~w the work (or at any rate the greater part of the work) of the association.”