R.S.A.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16853, 5 June 1920, Page 5

R.S.A.

DOMINION CONFERENCB,

(P 11255 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, June 4. The report of the Repatriation Committee dealing with the admission ,of incapacitated nu;n into all State services was submit!nd to tlio conference of the R.S.A. yesterday, and the cntninittc 1 found that many soldiers had been refused re-employment by the State on account of their war injuries. It urged:— (1) That employment at a wage comparable to what th;\y lvonld have been receiving had they not enlisted should be found for tlieni. and that men wh/> resigned their positions in order to enlist should bo reinstated in the same way as if leave had been granted to tliem. (b) That a separate snperan- i ligation fund subsidised by the Govern- I ment- be established in order to remove any difficulty in connexion with superannuation. (c) That no soldier so reemployed shall lose by reason of war servico any annual .increment to which he would otherwise have been entitled. (2) That tins Association demands preference for returned soldiers, sailors, a lid nurses when public appointments , are made, and recommends that preference be given by private employers' also. The report was adopted. The report- of tho Repatriation Committee was presented. The committee strongly stressed the following resolutions, particularly in view eff the grave concern which the position of land settlement is to-day causing retinned soldiers, and asked that the pledge given by Mr Massey to the last conference be endorsed by Parliament: —"That the Association ■ ask the Government and Parliament for a pledge that land settlement and repatriation benefits generally shall hot be rendered inoperative until such time as every soldier has had a.mple opportunity to train 'himself or to otherwise arrange his affairs in order to allow him to take full advantage of the said benefits. The committee also made recommendations as to the training of soldiers, including apprentices and subsidised workers, as well as fit men. The report was adopted. The election of officers resulted:— President, Dr. Boxer; treasurer, Mr C. W. Batten; vice-presidents, Messrs B. Blackwell (Canterbury), P. Watts (Auckland), D. S. Smith ("Wellington). and Dr. M. Harrison (Dvmodin); executive: Canterbury, Messrs AY. E. Leadley, T. F«. Y. Seddon, M.P., nnd L. M. Ingles; Auckland, Messrs T. Long, E. F. Andrews, and N. A. Ching; Otago, Messrs T. E. Graham, A. Glass, and A. C. Laing; AVellington, Messrs J. D. Harp?r, J. S. Hanri.i, N. A'ereoe, J. A. Cowles, and the Rev. Mr AVinton. The Auckland and Otngo delegates intimated that their 7'epresentatives on the executive would retire in the event of the district conferences deciding on fresh nominations. The conference"has concluded: