THE R.S.A.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 453, 1 August 1919, Page 4

THE R.S.A.

Its Aims and Objects

LOWER WAIKATO ASSOCIATION FORMED

Once again, the residents of Pukekohe showed their disinclination to attend a public meeting, this time they failed to roll «p in large numbers, to hear the aims and objects of tho New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association expounded by four members of the Auckland branch on Friday evening, in the Premier Hall. Tfte returned men themselves did not attend in full force, as out of a total of 150, only about a third of that number were present. His Worship the Mayor, Mr C. K. Lawrie, presided, and seated on his right were Messrs W. Pollock (organiser of tho Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association) and E' W. Inder a member of the executive and the Association's delegate to the Dominion executive, while on his left were Messrs A. C. A. Sexton, and T. Long. Mr J. Dent, a local returned man, also occupied a seat on the platform. Mr Lawrie, in introducing the speakers said that the Auckland members came with the idea of laying before Pukekohe residents the aims and objects of the Association), and with the intention of forming a branch at Pukekohe they required all the assistance they could possibly get, as without co-operation and unionism, the Association could not achieve its objects. He then called upon Mr Dent to addross the audience.

Mr Dent said he hoped to see a much larger attendance. At any rate, as he had promised previously, those assembled would have an interesting and instructive evening. They would learn something about, the aims and objects of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, and they wanted to enlist, and get the sympathy of the public in the future. The Association had not yet touched political action, but hf was confident that the time was opportune to get a move on. It was apparent that if something was not done, they would experionco a time of great upheaval, and unless the actions were diverted into proper channels they would be cut adrift as in other countries Ho hoped that 'he state of affairs in the Dominion would not come to that. The returned soldiers had grievances and just ones. The Association as f< body was not seeking for the soldiers, but for the welfare of thr Dominion as a whole. Mr E W. Inder said he would gi. e a brief outline of what the Returned Soldiers' Association had done and what it intended to do. 13e in stanced the case of a man wl.o applied for a position, and the first question he was asked was, Whai pension are you getting ? The replj was :')os. Well, the last man we had got £3 ; you'H only want £2, won't you ? This was a sample of what went on. He considered it manifestly unfair that a man should be exploited for an injury ho had received for which he was receiving e little compensation. The Association had taken Court proceedings against as inlluential Auckland business man who had injured a woman (with hitcar) who had her sons away at tho front, and they had succeeded in getting £IOO damages awarded to her. ne gave several other instances whore injustices had been remedied by tho Association.

Mr A. C. A. Sexton said thero was a tremendous difficulty iu getting men back to their pre-war positions. A man who had been at an occupation for 2-) or .'SO yoars was not able to take up a change of occupation. When a man arrived at a certain age Ins brains and muscles were set for that position, and it was grossly unfair to ask him to change it. A man who had come back badly damaged could not take up a position which was attached to hard work. They all wanted something to do. A man with an arm off, for instance, received 32s a week pension, while a man totally disabled received £2 a week, which he considered absolutaly inadequate, under the present high cost of living. At the last Returned Soldiers' Dominion Conference a recommendation was passed that the pension bo increased to £P> 1 Ss a week for permanently total disabled men : this was what £2 was worth in I'.ll 1 They further urged that the value of the sovereign iu 1!• 1-1 be the determining factor.

lhe Kail way Department had never taken on a permanently disabled man, although he was sure there was any amount of jobs in an office that he could do. It a private employer could take some, surely a big Department like the Railways could. He referred io the woik of the Repatriation Hoard in giving men a start in business they wore adapted for. They advanced but ho hoped it would bo increased to £")(!(). The Hoard was composed of good business men, ami if a soldier satisfied the Board (which consisted of two returned soldier-", and others) that he could make a success of the undertaking, hi* was assisted; but if it wis found he would fail in his business, they would advise him accordingly Mr T. I iong practically endorsed tin) sentiments voiced by thn previous

speakers. lli> based his further remarks on the political aspect ami added that thero were problems confront.ng the whole of the people of the country which had to lie determined sooner or later. They had to i oir < rve tlio welfare and Will being of tlie country mm well a-s to look alter tii i interests of eomiades who were lying mi some foreign battlefield. They were out to See that just in was meted out and it v. as their m.I emu duty to see that all got lair play. Speaking of the objects of the Returned Soldiers' Association i\l. I jong said they had fried to g> t amelioration. In fiomo respects they hud succeeded, but in others they failed. In the lalfor they were being forced to enter the political arena and they were determined to

see it through. They would put forward a platform in such a manner that it would disclose just what action thej* were taking. The Returned Soldiers and their dependants had manj' grievances which would have fo lie rectified.

Mr W. Pollock, Organiser for the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association, said lie did not wish to add anything further to what the previous speakers had said. His duty was that of organiser. Daily they had applications for enrolment from all over the world. Included in the list of members was an Italian, a Belgian, and a Lieut.-Colonel in tho Canadian Army. He thanked the people of Pukekohe for the treatment to returned men and said that as far as he could see and hear they were being well treated. lie suggested that they form themselves into a branch, whereby they would become convorsant with the doings of the Association throughout the Dominion.

Questions were then invited

Mr H. G. R. Mason asked "Was it proposed that the returned soldiers should enter into every part of politics or just for tho benefit of returned soldiers."

Mr Long : The returned soldiers politics was a civilian movement, not a soldiers movement. It was for the betterment and welfare of the country. Mr H. H. D. Wily wanted to know some definite way in which he could help the returned soldiers. Mr Inder : There are several ways you can help us, but all we ask is your sympathy and moral support. They did not want finances but wanted to know if they had the public opinion so as to get the wrongs of New Zealand righted. They wanted the whole community behind them. At the conclusion of the public meeting, a meeting of the returned men was held with the object _of forming a branch of the Association with headquarters at Pukekohe Mr J. Dent was voted to the chair, and after a little discussion, it was moved that those present form themselves into a nucleus of a Lower Waikato Returned Soldiers' Association. This was carried unanimously. Dr A. Campbell Smith was unanimously elected President, and Mr Morris, hon acting Secretary. The following were appointed an organising committee : Dr Campbell Smith, R. G. Y. Fear, Fife, J. O'Malloy Jeffries and Morris, with power to add to their number.