GWVA Aims

TELLS OF AIMS AND WORKS OF G.W.V.A. – Dominion Secretary Addresses Public meeting In City On Sunday last.

            There was a very good turnout on Sunday evening last at the Star Theatre to hear addresses from Messrs. W. Drinnan and C.G. McNeil, respectively the provincial and dominion secretaries of the G.W.V.A.  Mr. McNeil was the chief speaker, and many of those present  got a new insight into the scope of the work the veterans’ organization is doing.  Major H.B. Hicks, president of the local G.W.V.A. presided, and with him on the platform was Dr. F.W. Green, the honorary president of the organization.  An orchestra was in attendance and rendered selections while the people were gathering.

            Mr. Drinnan stated he was not going to speak at length, since he had the opportunity more often of meeting the public in this province than Mr. McNeil.  It was thought that the time had come when a little more publicity could be given to the work being done by the G.W.V.A., and the meetings held in this province were for the purpose of informing members and others what was being done.  He added a word of commendation to the local branch for the work they were doing in stabilizing conditions.

            Mr. McNeil also added his words of praise in this connection in regard to the Cranbrook branch and other branches in the interior.  He pointed also to the national dimensions of the organization, now embracing some 200,000 members in upwards of 800 branches.  He said that the organization was becoming more than ever an influence in the public and national life, and of increasing utility to ex-service men.  As early as 1917 it had made itself felt.  Some of the questions that had been dealt with were increased pensions and land settlement, and in these matters he felt the G.W.V.A. had been of distinct service to the veterans.  Vocational training was another line along which they had achieved considerable success on behalf of the ex-service men.  But he wished to emphasize that they were not acting at all selfishly; they merely sought just recompense for losses men had sustained in the war of different kinds.

            Following his usual custom Mr. McNeil invited suggestions from the audience as to what lines in particular of the G.W.V.A. work they would like to hear about.  Questions were accordingly asked as to the housing scheme for returned soldiers.  Mr. McNeil discussed this question, indicating the stand the organization had taken in bringing to pass what had been done in this regard, and indicated they were going to approach the government again on this matter.  Incapacity arising from war service, but not occurring during service was also discussed, as well as the disposal of the canteen fund and the $2000 bonus proposal.  The amalgamation of the various veterans’ bodies which had been effected in Winnipeg recently was also discussed by the dominion secretary, who considered it a distinct step forward.  Mr. McNeil is the first general secretary of the new body to be known as the Dominion Alliance.

            In the closing portion of his address Mr. McNeil dealt very tellingly with the mission of the G.W.V.A. and its relation to the big problems of today, such as immigration and unemployment.  Wherever he went he made it his business to look into the hospitals, the employment bureaus, and talked with the dependents of returned men and he was convinced they must not relax one ounce of energy while conditions exist which need remedying; the work must continue.  All classes were embraced in the membership of the G.W.V.A., men of all classes were linked together in the one body for the common service of all, and he appealed very strongly for the best support of all the veterans in their work.  Little petty differences needed to be put aside in striving for their common end of national service.  “What is needed is not less civilization, but more civilization,” he concluded; “not less Christianity, but more Christianity.”