RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSO – CIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1917, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSO - CIATION.

A NATIONAL MOVEMENT, The work of the Now Zealand Beturncil Soldiers' Association lias two aspects C —one from the point of view of citizens of New Zealand—the other from that ol; the. returned soldier. It must lie understood that the Association is organising a national movement with very serious objects and it is no* '! formed merely with a view to securing club comforts for its members. We still have fresh in our minds the South African War, and we know that after tyat war,numbers of men were never propetly able to settle down to civil life. In this war where the whole of New Zealand's ' young munhood is involved, a grave danger is apparent to all. The returned 1 soldiers h:i\« realised the impending trouble and have set themselves the task of averting it. One of the greatest factors in achieving this part of the work is * . * Returned Soldiers' Club. The great nervous strain through which a soldier parses cannot but have its effect upon him. A returned soldier with any length of service is out of touch with civil life, ; and his feelings on being discharged from the army, "no further use," can be better imagined than described.

In the Returned Soldiers' Club he ( meets men who have nil the attribute* of citizenship, and have with him the common bond of active service The value of this re-union us club members cannot be too strongly emphasised, and the returned soldier who has settled down to work u<!uin is thus a factor in ' making it castor for those who conift after. Clubs controlled by the Association are not permitted to become loafin" grounds. Men are encouraged to work and work is found for them. Thus , il will be seen that the Association regards these clubs only as n means to aa end, and that end is one of vital im-pel-in nee to the country. The first siep is the establishing on a sounil and uniform basis of control Returned Soldier*" Clubs in every part of the Dominion. For this work, 110 public money ha« yi t been subscribed. The returned soldiers themselves are subscribing to -ft great national work. From tlie point of view of the returned soldier, the Association appears as ft strong body composed entirely of his cfw» comrades, to which he can turn wherever lie may be. No soldier maimed or broke* in service need fear that Ml sacrificewill be forgotten, since in time of need, every one of liis comrades will stand at the back of him. Nor will the- widow* or dependents of' those who have filler bo forgotten; they will never appeal in vain to the Returned Solder*! tlea, ( ( .