NEED OF CLUBS.

Taihape Daily Times, 24 May 1918, Page 3

NEED OF CLUBS.

HELPFUL TO RETURNED SOLDIERS. (By J. I. Fox, Manager of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Club.) From time to time a certain amount of criticism has been levelled against, • the establishment of Returned Sol- ' diers’ Clubs. In many instances the criticism has been constructive, but in the mapority inf cases rather de’structive. Of course if these institutions do not serve a better purpose than merely as places of social pleasure or ordinary club life, then the public will be justified in looking askance at them. For, after all, there are plenty of clubs which the returned soldier might easily join if he is not already a member of some such club. But a Returned Soldiers’ Club is quite a different thing; in truth, it is not a club, but an institution. An institution must always have some driving force behind it. Unless there is a definite purpose, which has to be carried out, then all the money expended is futile, and all the energy is useless. No movement has ever been brought into being unless there was a necessity for it. The association of returned soldiers is the main outward expression of that inward desire which is behind these institutions. Strip that spirit, which is the guiding star of any movement, and an institution must fail or fall to the ground. 1 do not think that there is any doubt about the necessity of the Returned Soldiers’ Association; hence, the establishment of these institutions is only natural and inevitable.

There comes a time in every returned soldier’s life when he is suddenly confronted with a new vision and with new ideas. After having lived a life so different from his pre-war life, and still living in a semi-military atmosphere, it takes him quite a time to get accustomed to his new surroundings, and in a good many instances he is unable to follow his usual occupation.

In the Returned Soldiers’ Club he finds men Avho have toiled with him, shared with him the same hardships, and what is more, have already settled- down in civilian life. In that institution he discovers the various agencies established for his repatriation, and is further able to have a helpful discussion of problems in Which'he is vitally concerned. Thus gradually he gets nearer to things actual and resumes his status as a civilian. The process continues as more men come back, and pass through the

same experience. Besides, it is comforting to think that there is a place where the returned soldier can at least shake hands with former comrades in an institution which is void of partisan strife and party politics. It is remarkable that before the war a good many of these men had nothing in common, and did not meet on the same ground. Socially they represent all classes of society, but in the Club they are one from the first-rank officer down to the private. Khaki has been a great leveller, and society will be the better for it. It is gratifying to know that there are public-spirited men and women who have realised the necessity or these institutions, and have supported them accordingly. It is more gratifying to know that at the very outset, when men have realised that salvation lies in their own hands. There is much hard thinking to be done in order to heal the social wounds which will be the result of this great upheaval. Returned Sol- j diers’ Clubs, if properly guided, will i contribute in a great measure to this end. Thus so far, I have outlined the utility of these clubs. Whether they should be on a temporary or perman. ent basis, I shall take the liberty to discuss at a later stage. Suffice it to say, that some of us who have been in this particular movement from the outset feel that good work has been done, and we can asure the public £hat these clubs do not create a special class, neither do they produce loafers. Our aim is to make the returned soldier feel that he has fought for a noble cause, and his future should be worthy of true citizenship. “Cjliick March’’' * '|