YESTERDAY'S DISCUSSIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 208, 28 May 1919, Page 8

YESTERDAY'S DISCUSSIONS

THE QUESTION OF POLITICAL ACTION. 'By Telegraph-Special Correspondent.) Christehurch, May 27. At the commencement of to-day's conference Hie chairman submitted that it would be advisable to get on with the question of political action, which all the delegates were anxious to see decided. Tho Auckland delegates, however, pointed out that they wero not prepared to move their motion, nnd submitted that the matter should not be taken till tomorrow. .They wore not aware that it wa.s intended to lake the question this morning, and would like an opportunity of preparing their arguments. A Wellington delegate seconded the motion, and remarked that he did not think the conference had any desire to force the hands of the Auckland delegates. The conference agreed to take tho Auckland and Waikato proposals respecting political platforms to-morrow morning. Following this decision, the report ond balance-sheet of tho association's official organ, "Quick 'March," was discussed. All the delegates congratulated the board of management on the satisfactory state of the finances. The conference was of opinion that the annuo! subscription should be raised to include the subscription to "Quick March," as it wns admitted that tho paper was not receiving the support of the relumed soldiers that it should.

k remit from the Auckland Association recommending an alteration in the association's constitution to permit of the admission of associate members was unanimously negatived. Even the Auckland delegates themselTes recognised the impossibility of such a course as to admit to membership every person who had worn the King's uniform during tho war. Such a course-would.result in tho association losing its identity as a returned soldiers' institution.

Tiio next reinit was one from.the Wellington Association asking that membership of the association bo extended to all members of the Samoan advance party. This wns carried unanimously, pome delegates expressing regret, that the rules of tho association did not originally vide for their inclusion, but the" Wellington delegates stated that the exclusion clause was limited to. those who came, back from Samoa and took then discharge without rendering further service.

Considerable discussion took nlace on a remit from the Christehurch Association recommending that veterans of previous wars bn admitted to membership. Many delegates were of. the opinion that Hie veterans had their own association and had no right to claim membership of the Returned Soldiers' Association, but: a section of the delegates represented that the veterans had a claim to the sympathies of the association and were returned soldiers, even though they loo!; 110 payt in the Great War. The' remit was lost.

A reinit from the Oamaru Association regarding _ conscientious objectors was next considered, and the conference endorsed tho sympathies of the District Association in urging that all military defaulters should be made to servo the full term of their sentence. Every dolegale was genuinely emphatic in Hie demand lhal those men who failed lo serve their country by deserting and pleading a conscientious objection should receive their deserts.

Delegates gave their unanimous support lo a remit from tho I'almorsl'on North Association respecting preference (0 returned men in positions-on Hie Defew slalT.

l'"i"''tij from I'm Wellington, Oamaru, and Napier Associalions regarding Ihe observance qf Anzac Day were given the unanimous support of de.lesiitps, who were firm in their desire to have April 25 sot aside as a statutory holiday for all time. Representations are to be made to the. Government to have Aiuac Day made an absolutely close holiday. Anzac Day was not. simply a day to commemorate" the Peninsular campaifa.but a day to commemorate the New Zealand Division's part in the war generally. The

action of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce in countenancing a proposal that Anzac Day bo commemorated on the Sunday next b April 25 was adversely criticised, and a remit disapproving of tho chamber's proposal wns carried unanimously.

The next question considered was a icrait from the Wanganui Association, which proposed that tho conference should urge upon the Government the necessity of additional legislation regarding tho disbursement of surplus patriotic funds. The chairman commented in very strong terms on, the suggestion that the Government might take over tho funds and use them for the establishment of sanatoria for consumptive soldiers. The funds were raised to provide comforts for sick nnd wounded soldiers, and not for the State to use on works which were State obligations. Sir. G. F. Andrews, of Auckland, made a strong appeal to delV gates to sec that tho patriotic funds were not used for any other purpose than that of assisting men who saw service. The funds should be applied to soldiers' clubs, and delegates would need to make a firm stand, for it was recognised that the Minister of Internal Affairs was ■unsympathetic towards such chilis. Even though the Solicitor-General had given an opinion that patriotic funds could not be applied for the purpose of establishing soldiers' clubs, the conference should urge upon the Government to introduce special legislation in order that the funds might be available for the assistance of fit soldiers as well as sick and wounded. The Wellington and Christehurch dele-' gates spoke 911 similar lines, and the remit was carried unanimously. The Auckland delegates then moved a remit which was more on the lines of the discussion which took place on the Wanganui Association's remit, which, simply advocated additional legislation to provide for the nroper disbursement of tho balance of the; patriotic funds. ' The delegates generally condemned any action the Government might take in applying these funds other than for the beefit of returned soldiers.