R.S.A.

Southland Times, Issue 18836, 1 June 1920, Page 6

R.S.A.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. THE YEAR’S WORK. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. May 31. The fourth annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association opened on Saturday night and will be continued throughout the present week. A large number of delegates were present, and Dr Boxer, president of the Association, oci timed the chair. The Mayor (Mr J. Luke* welcomed the delegates. The annual report states that during the past year the following distinguished visitors and soldiers were enrolled as members:—The Prince of Wales (life patron i, Viscount Jellicoe (life member', Major-Generals Russel! and Chaytor, Brigadier-Generals Richardson, Hart and Stewart. The membership has risen from 25,000 to 57,000. During th» year there sprang into existence a British set t ion of the Association composed of genuine exNew Zealand E.F. men and New Zealand members of other forces. There had been several anomalies respecting gratuities, and a committee had been set up to deal with these matters. The past year had been one of unrest as regards internal organisation and a satisfactory arrangement had not yet been come to. The present headquarters is more or less the scapegoat of all associations in the constitution.

In moving the adoption of the annual report, the president said they had been so much concerned with their internal affairs that they had to a great extent missed opportunities for doing good for men who had returned. He wished to thank the heads of the Government departments for their assistance. If the Association had been to some extent up against the Government it had been more or less in a friendly way, for the Government was quite willing to take them into any concern or movement for the good of their comrades. The splendid way the cuontry had grappled with repatriation met with his warm approval. There were many men yet who wanted certain things, but as far as repatriation was concerned the problem had been virtually settled. One of the mo.-t important things to come before the conference was reconstruction.

Other speakers referred to opportunities for good work on the part of the Association.

Mr Andrews (Auckland) suggested -hat a public erecting be held in the Town Mall, at the conclusion -of the conference. to make known the Association’s desires and demands.