SPECIAL MEETING OF MEN

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 237, 22 September 1939, Page 3

SPECIAL MEETING OF MEN

WAR VIGILANCE ASSOCIATION FORMATION IN OPOTIKI QUESTION OF SPECIAL FUND There was a large attendance of men from all parts of the Opotiki town and district at the special meeting held”in the Parish Hall on Wednesday night for the purpose of deciding what steps were to he taken to look after the men. who would leave the Opotiki district on war service. Air. J. B. Gow occupied the chair, and a number of others, representative of district local bodies and organisations, also were on the platform. Proceedings opened with the singing of the National Anthem, after which the chairman read apologies from Capt. Kirkpatrick (S.A.), Air. Cha s. Gordon, Rev. A. F. Air. J. T. Tabb and Air. Cecil Cave. Mr. Gow opened his remarks by stating that the circular which had been issued -gave a general idea of the purpose of the meeting. Alost of those present remembered the previous war and all it entailed. ft was hard to realise what the present war entailed. There was one thing, and that was that each loyal citizen, could do all possible to help the cause and make Now Zealand as proud as she had been in the last war to bo able, to help. The .meeting was not intended to supersede anything within the province of others. Those presojit had local' knowledge and wo'ukl know all those who left the district on service. They should lie ready to meet all the needs and carry out anything necessary to help those who were going to tlic war. Sometimes there were hindrances to the men wishing to go, but if a man knew he was going to have his interests cared for, it would help him considerably. It was the job of those remaining to help to. bear the sacrifice of those who were in the front of things. The chairman concluded his remarks by stating that he hoped that under God’s blessing they would do a worthy part liert* in Opotiki. Mr. Gow then called on Air.' E. J. Baigenti (president), to give the R.S. A. point of view.

Air. Baigent said the first thought of the returned soldiers was what they could do; secondly how they could help those who were going away. He then proceeded to give a brief outline of the aims and objects of the R.S.As He stated that all the work was of a confidential nature. At. practically every meeting there were cases of need brought forward-. Ihe speaker then touched on funds centred outside the district and considered! the administrative costs were high, whereas everything locally had been done voluntarily. Me especially thanked the ladies and others in the district who had helped the Opotiki R.S.A. Air. Baigent referred to the problems arising from the last war and said it would now be, necessary to separate funds for tiie men going to the present war. Mon who went overseas t saw a good deal of service and many were apparently fit when they returned. As the years went by constitutions commenced to break down. It was difficult to prove that these men were breaking down in health due to war services, and in many cases; it was impossible for the doctors to say so, hut the' knew it was because of the hardships the men lmd gone through that they were now breaking down. The speaker then went on to say that the Opotiki R.S.A. had decided to make a definite stand that some fund should bo set aside locally for Opotiki men. Mr. Baigent spoke at some length on the problem of the itinerant returned .soldiers—men who had lost their soil-re-spect and were roaming the country as swaggers. He appealed for special consideration lor those men.

Capt. C . !>. Brown said that lu? considered it an honour and a privilege to speak On behalf of these vailed up, and those who would leave later. He was glad .to say that the members ot the local Territorial force had answered the call in good numbers. Before the week was out about (;(i men would have been examined in Opotiki. Alatiy of them had told him of their special problems and they had been pleased and relieved to hear that while the\ were away that their interests would he looked after. No doubt there would ho a lot to doi if the war lasted any length of time, and the committee \veuld have a big responsibility in that event. ...

Th ( > (hainnan. after saying that he was pleased to see ''such a good attend-

mice, said that he felt sure everyone welcomed the idea of the meetings and. its objects. Air. Gow then invited anyone wishing to say a few words to seize their opporunity.

Air. B. Thompson (Farmers’ Union branch president), assured the meeting that the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was behind the. Government to a man. M'r. Thompson said that he would like to see that dependents were provided for.

Air. -F. J. Short said, that he would like to add his support to-what had been said by Air. Baigent. There had heen too much red tape after the last war. He considered that they slum Id he able to hold funds raised locally in the Opotiki district. They should make every effort to see that the funds were not centralised as previously. As chairman of the Opotiki branch of the N.Z. National Party in the Bay of Plenty electorate he was glad to offer the whole-hearted support of tile local branch.

Air. 8. Alaxwell appealed for consideration for men who would cojue hack, and settle in the Opotiki district and become permanent -residents. He thought such men should receive equal treatment.

Air. 'l'! G. Johnson (president ol the Opotiki branch of the Labour Party), expressed pleasure at being aide to associate himself with the meetingHe said f that the people in the district had now got something really worth fighting for. As chairman ol the Opotiki Branch of tlie- Labour Party lie would give an assurance that, the branch would do all possible to help the cause. The chairman called upon bather Brady to speak on behalf of tlie Catholics of the district. Father Brady said that on such an occasion lie spoke with humility. He would definitely pledge the help and support of his" church with the objects of' the meeting. There was necessity for evervonc to help. Jhe Prime Alinistei of England had said it wa s not a war.' of hate tin* British Nation was fighting. They were not fighting against the Germans hut against Nazism. He (the speaker) looked forward to the glorious hour of triumph. He felt the' Church should be of assistance in times of war as in times of peace. If a mail died in doing the right thing, lie died a worthy death, having heen. set an-example hv Jesus Christ. Resolutions Carried Air. CL Pipe moved tlie following, resolution : “That this public meeting constitute itself The Opotiki War A igilhn.ee Association, to have as its special objective the care of the affairs of men and women who enlist from Opetiki town and country, and that a main executive committee he set up as follows:—One representative to be appointed by the County Council, out from each of the Borough Council. Labour Party'. National Party, Farmers' Union, Alinistei s’ Association, Father Brady. Returned Soldiers’ Association. Hospital Board; Air. J. B. Grw and the conveners'of-1 sub-com-mittee-, to lie appointed.” The motion was '.seconded by Mr. W~ lric\7 and carried unanimously. .Mr. T. Steele moved, seconded by All'-. A. Dehivceny: “'I hat the following lour sub-committees, each with a convenor be set up. I would suggest. Sir. that we appoint only the conveners of each committee and that it he an distinction from this meeting that each convener himself cheese six men to work with him. it being provided that all names first he submitted to the main executive for approval. No. 1 committee —Legal and .1' itiaucial Al.itters: Convener, Air. E. A. Bunkall. No. 2 Uoinmittee —Caro of Business Interests: Convener. Mr. C. Pipe. No. 3 Committee —Oveisight ol I‘uuii.-. Convener, Air. C. Gordon. No. -I Committee—Home and Personal Matters: Convenor, Rev..A. F. Attwoocl.” The 'motion was carried unanimously. Mr. iE. J. Baigent said l that in otdei to prepare to give effect, to the suggestion he had made about the eventual establishment of a fund, lie would move as fellows.:— “That the main executive committee he instructed to investigate the matter of the institution of a fund to he- invested in and controlled by local trustee's lor the ultimate' benefit oi men and women enlisting irom Opotiki town and county. The motion was seconded by Air. - G Johnson and carried unanimously. The Rc'v. C. G. G. Salt then moved the following resolution: “That the time has now arrived when we should call upon the men of New Zealand toexert every energy to extend the Christian Philosophy.” The motion was seconded. In speaking to the motion Air. Salt said that.there was only one philosophy that would bring peace ;to the