N. Guinea Service

Men

Reconstitution of Soldiers' Organisation

A GENERAL meeting of the re constituted New Guinea branch of the RSSAILA was held at Trenton House, Sydney, on January 25. Over sixty members were present to hear a report on the year’s activities and dis cuss plans for future action.

The New Guinea organisation was des troyed and all its records lost when the Japanese invaded Rabaul in January, 1942. In March, 1942, members who were in Australia applied to the Federal Exe cutive of the RSSAILA for permission to establish a temporary New Guinea branch in Australia; and in November, 1942, members met and decided to re form and elect office-bearers. Since then the membership has grown to 76, of whom 31 are serving in the fighting forces. The great interest that members are showing in the branch augurs well for its future.

Finance

The financial position of the branch is reasonably sound. The bank balance is £109; the Rabaul sub-branch has trans ferred £l3 2/2 and the Kavieng sub branch £66 12 1 to the branch funds, and it is expected that the Morobe sub branch will follow suit.

With regard to war damage insurance

on Anzac House, Rabaul, the branch is covered to the extent of £l,OOO for the building and £340 for contents. It is be lieved the building has been totally des troyed. If war damage claims are ever paid, the branch will be in a position to erect its own club rooms on its return to the Territory.

In December the Federal President made a special grant of £5O for distri bution of Christmas cheer by the branch to New Guinea ex-servicemen and/or their dependants who are in necessitous circumstances, following on their com pulsory evacuation. No discrimination was shown between members and non members of the League.

Aid To Pow And Dependants

The branch executive has adopted a policy of assisting wives of members who are prisoners of war by giving monetary aid towards the education of their children and preparing for the re habilitation of members when it is possible to return to the Territory. In respect of this relief plan the secretary, Mr. H. L. Downing, read a letter from Mr.

Vic. Horsley, who at present resides at Bathurst. Mr. Horsley suggested that all members make a monthly donation of as much as they could spare to help towards these worthy aims of the branch, and he himself sent along £1 to start the ball rolling.

Closer Settlement In New

Guinea

Following a suggestion by Mr. Henry Eekhoff, at a previous meeting of the branch, a sub-committee has been ap pointed to go into the matter of closer settlement in New Guinea after the war; but owing to the difficulty of obtaining copies of reports the sub-committee has made little progress. The last Federal Congress of the RSSAILA asked State branches to submit a draft bill, to be considered by a conference of represen tatives of the States, but when the New Guinea branch asked permission to send a representative, with a view to gaining information, they were informed that it was thought that it was rather premature to discuss the question of post-war land settlement in New Guinea. The New Guinea branch is not altogether in agree ment with this statement, and is of the opinion that any suggestion made in Aus tralia regarding the future is looked upon as being premature. Members (and all evacuees) would be much better off now if the Government’s outlook of twelve months ago had been less sensitive on the subject of providing for the future. The executive of the New Guinea branch did not, in any case, intend to accept the decision of the Federal Executive without protest.

Commemoration Of Fall Op

Rabaul

Arrangements made for placing wreaths on Sydney Cenotaph in memory of those

who had fought and fallen in the Japanese occupation of Rabaul on January 23, 1942, were successful. Mr. A.

J. Gaskin placed a wreath there, on be half of the branch, and 17 other wreaths were laid on behalf of military units and various Territory organisations and busi ness firms. Members of the branch, who lived in Brisbane and Melbourne, took similar action in those cities.

Ngvr And League Membership

The question of the eligibility of the NGVR to League membership was receiv ing the closest attention of the executive of the branch, reported the secretary. The Federal Executive of the League had been written to on the matter and the branch had been advised by the League that the question of the status of the NGVR had already been discussed with the Depart ment of the Army, and it was under stood that the matter is receiving con sideration.

Miscellaneous

Other matters which are receiving the attention of the New Guinea branch’s executive include the provision of New Guinea club rooms in Sydney in co operation with the New Guinea Women’s Club, and organisation of a theatre party, at a later date.