MEMBERSHIP OF R.S.A.

Southland Times, Issue 24234, 18 September 1940, Page 6

MEMBERSHIP OF R.S.A.

All Returned Men Wanted

APPEAL FOR INCREASED SUPPORT “It took the Returned Soldiers’ Association many painful years to discover all the pitfalls and difficulties that beset the average soldier’s path after he has returned to civil life, but the fruits of that experience will be made available for the men now serving overseas when they return,” said the president of the Invercargill Returned Soldiers’ Association (Dr A. W. • Owen-Johnston) yesterday when making an appeal for all returned men to join the association. Dr Owen-Johnston said that the association’s duties and responsibilities had greatly increased since the war began, and as a result bigger demands were being made on its funds. Its income, however, was derived solely from members’ subscriptions, and it could meet its full responsibilities only if a greater measure of support was given by returned men. Active membership was available for a subscription of 10/- a year to all returned soldiers who had served in any campaign waged by the Crown, and also to men of the Mercantile Marine who had received a discharge entitling them to the Mercantile Marine and the General Service medals.

ASSOCIATION’S WORK The association had been chiefly occupied in the past, continued Dr OwenJohnston, in assisting returned soldiers in their claims for pensions, in finding employment for men and in handling money from funds established during . the last war. Although it still had much work of this nature to do, he said, the association was also being called upon to perform other duties. It had supplied guards to stand watch over strategic points and instructors for military camps. The comfort of returned soldiers serving in the Home Guard had also to be attended to, while it would be called upon to play an important part in the organization of the other units in the Home Guard. The association was actively assisting in the country’s war effort and the increased duties entailed would require an increased income. While it would be difficult to estimate the proportion the number of members of the association in Southland bore to the number of returned men in the district, it was true that on a national basis only half the returned men were members of district associations. Part of the New Zealand executive’s duties were to watch over legislation affecting the interests of soldiers and to make representations to have it amended where it was considered necessary: A great deal of work had also been done by the association after the last war in improving the land settlement schemes for returned soldiers and much work still remained to be done in that direction. NO RESERVE FUNDS Since the last war the organization had not built up reserve funds, but it was felt that it should be in a strong position so that all possible help could be given to soldiers now serving when they returned. Many of them no doubt, would not be in a satisfactory financial position and the work of their rehabilitation would fall partly on the shoulders of the association.

AU possible assistance was being given to the patriotic committees in raising money, and later assistance would be given when the money was being allocated to deserving cases. A little known task which was being carried out by members of the association was the compilation of a roster containing the names and personal details of all soldiers enlisting from Southland, a record which would serve a valuable purpose when the war was over.

“Our objective is to have all returned soldiers in Southland as members,” said Dr Owen-Johnston, “and if this is obtained it will be able to do even more than it has been doing in the past.”