R.S.A.POLICY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10604, 1 June 1920, Page 5

R.S.A.POLICY

CRITICISM AND DEFENGE FAR-REACHING PROBLEMS OF THE FUTURE. ft QUESTION OE POLITICAL- ACTION. Matters of policy as affecting tho welfare of returned soldiers were discussed at tho annual conference of delegates of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association yesterday. First of all, Dr: E. Boxer (Hastings), Dominion president, expressed tho opinion that the association had now got rid of the '"political ghost." Politics had been thoroughly discussed at the October conference, and in his opinion, that phase could now be considered closed.

Voices: No, never. ASSOCIATION ON SOUND GROUND.

Dr. Boxer said that the evidence brought out at various times tended to pro\e what he had said. In other countries where returned soldier's had attempted political organisation failure had been recorded. Colonel Grigg, Military Secretary to tho Prince of Wales, had informed him that in every other 'jouutry, as far as ho knew, where returned soldiers' associations had been formed by and through political agencies, particular associations found themselves tip against other associations which had been fathered by other political parties. Colonel Grigg had also informed him that in New. Zealand the Returned Soldiers' Association was working upon absolutely fair and sound ground when it remained all things to all men if by any means it could do some good tor soldiers as a whole. Mr .T. Long (Te Aroha): That is a debatable uoint, sir.

The president, continuing, said that Colonel Grigg had indicated that had the association been a political concern the Prince pi Wales could not, under any consideration, have accepted the association's badge, and -could not have become one of themselves. "POLITICAL .GHOST" A "REALITY." ''Needless to say, I don't intend to throw" out any challenges this morning," remarked Mr John- I. Fox, amidtt laughter. "Dr. Boxer has mentioned what he calls the 'political ghost': I want to assure him that the 'ghost' is a reality." The Government should bo compelled to carry out- all the promises that had been made to the soldiers when they went away to the v ar. There was plenty of money in the country for reconstruction purposes, and the association should demand that it was used. "A GREAT FUTURE." Mr R. B. Bell (Wairoa) thought the association could congratulate itself on having reached such a large membership. It gave him particular pleasure to see that the association was having more regard to personal matters. It had always seemed to him that the association had been neglectful of publicity, and he trusted that the new executive would do its utmost to seize the public imagination with the influence and status of the association. He could not help thinking that ther<j was a great future for tho organisation if it continued on the lines it bad begun. Special emphasis should be made of the unselfish work performed by the executive. A Kreat deal bad to be done in the matter of pensions, the welfare of T~B. men, and in land settlement. They must 'strive even more than in the past to maintain a. national outlook, and to get payment of their just debts. But fhev must put first the interests of the Dominion as a whole: their own immediate interests ranked second. A CRITIC FROM GHRISTCHURCH. Mr W. E. Leadley (Christchurch) said he considered a very disappointing feature that the special commission set up to deal with gratuity anomalies had not yet met. That was a serious matter, because all over tho country there were soldiers waiting for the decisions" of the Commissionon matters that had been placed before it. He condemned the action of tho Government in temporarily withdrawing the bertefits under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, and contended that the matter had been handled very unsatisfactorily oy the Minister for' Lands. Tho association should go in for a comprehensive, policy regarding immigration, and it should take up a. decided stand with regard to the high cost of living. WORK TO BE DONE. Mr E. W. Inder (Auckland) thought the association should press for defin. ito decisions regarding certain matters that had come under its purview. Many members held tho idea, that tho work had been practically completed because they, as individuals, had got all they expected to get in the way of repatriation, gratuities, and pensions. The- executive had to get that ' idea out of the heads of members. There was a tremendous amount of work to be done. The association was the largest organisation in tho country, and it should use its power to tho end of ensuring that all the national ideals deemed to bo for the benefit of th«i country be carried out. On the statute book were a number of expiring laws, and these should be watched closely to seo that the interests of returned soldiers were not prejudiced. Mr F. Pirani (Foilding)' urged the establishment of n publicity agency to put the ideas of tho association before the country.

Mr D. J. B. Seymour (Wnipnwa) considered that the association had not yet got down to solid principles to test every demand that had been brought forward on behalf of returned soldiers. Problems had be«n tackled* in too piecemeal a fashion.» The executive should be given almost unlimited powers, as in the past it had hesitated to take certain steps because it feared the attitude of eomo district association. A DUTY TO THE COUNTRY.

Mr P. H.'Watts (Waikato) expressed the opinion that thero was a grnvo danger of the people thinking that the returned soldiers were of belief that they had done thoii 1 duty by the country. This should not he. The peopTo should be. impressed with the fact that the returned men wore still anxious to do their duty to the Dominion, and would continue ito do their best iov thf country. ''The GovernmcnH has to be condemned for things fWhn* not done," said Mr T. Lonß (Te Aroha). The association did not want charity. Ho would never be content with tho statement of nnv Cabinet Minister that, CI 9,000.000 had -been spent on returned soldiers. (Hoar, hear.) Tho Government hnd a. tangible asset for the money it borrowed, and it should see that moncc' ■*"-*■* f ou »£ or <S<9endi-

ture oa the repatriation of soldiers. Mr E. I' - . Andrews (Bay of Plenty/ considered that there had been too much of a "go-slow" policy during tho yoar. The publio should bo informed of tho aims of -the association, and the Ministers of .the Crown should bo in ado to know that the association wanted something more than "earnest consideration" for its desires, THE EXECUTIVE DEFENDED.

Mr J. D. Harper (Wellington) submitted that every step had been taken .to bring resolutions of previous conferences under tho notice of the Uovcrnmcnt. What moro could be expected? Did conference want them to go round and smash windows and attack Parliament, House? It had to bo remembered that since-the October conference Parliament had not mot, and that many resolutions of the association could not bo given effect to except by legislation. Unity was essentia] if all tho objects of tho association were to ho attained, and it was only by putting forward sane suggestions that the public could be expected to accord support to returned soldiers.