RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 210, 30 May 1919, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

BUSINESS OF CONFERENCE REMITS DEALT WITH YESTERDAY. • By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, May 29. The New Zealand Eeturned Soldiers' Conference this morning- passed tho following motion: "That all remaining remits bearing on the question of political action bo considered as disposed of." A remit whioh was referred by tho conference to its Medical Committee was from Invercargill, and was to the effect that the Government be strongly urged to abolish hospital blue for those in hospital. In tho course of its report the committee said it was of opinion that tho objection to hospital blue was oaused by the disgraceful fitting garmonts at present issued. The committee recommended that the Minister of Defence be urged to haston the fulfilment of his promise to have a proper fitting garment on issue. Tho president said that properly fitting "blues were now being issued by the Government as fast as they could be supplied. Ho thought that in fairness to the Department the conference should re. cOgniso that it was attempting to tacklo the question. Mr. Dalhousio (Auckland), moved an amendment that the regulations regarding blue uniforms should be extended to include officers. '

After some discussion Mr. Dalhoushv amidst applause, withdrew his amend-' ment, and the remit and the committee's report were passod. Semite dealing with tubercular and venofeal cases were considered. In regard to the former it was agreed that tho Government was attempting to copo with the position, but the .sanatoria accommodation was insufficient, and a resolution was passed protesting against the attitude of the residents of Devonport which forced the authorities to close tho Narrow Neck oamp.' The delay in fitting men with artificial limbs was discussed, and a remit was carried to the effeot that an expert should be obtained and placed in charge of a centrab factory, and better . allowances and accommodation be provided for limbless men when- away from home for treatment.

' The committee's recommendations in regard to pay and gratuities were adopted, and it was agreed to-advocate that the ration allowance of 2s. to undischarged soldiers who are outpatients at •hospitals be increased immediately to is. per day. The matter of demanding an extra shilling a day for members of the, Tunnelling Corps, to bring the pay to Bs„ the British rate, was referred to the incoming executive. In connection with allowances to widowed mothers it was decided to approach the Government to have such put on a better footing. In connection with venereal diseases the executive forwarded the following remit: "That it be a recommendation to the Minister of Defence to amend the regulations in reference ; to the treatment of venereal disease patients so as to delete provisions of a punitive character, except such as are justified on the ground of loss of services to the State, or m:ch as, provide for cases where the disease has be.en intentionally contracted or retained." On this remit the committee had no further recommendation to offer.

The report continued: "The committee Tecogniscd the value of tlio regulations concerning the treatment of venereal . disease cases returning to New, Zealand, and commends the Government for its action, but the committee is strongly of opinion that the. same or similar regulations should be enforced upon civilian cases of V.D., and to attain this, the CD. Act should be passed into law. The committee wishes to emphnsiso that the soldier; by reason of the. compulsion to obey the King's regulations in reference to the notification of V.D., automatically, and ultimately comes under the Public Health Department, whereas tho, civilian V.D.' is under no regulation, and is a graver 'menace to public health than is (he soldier. The. committee...further., recomnjends'that the position of, YJX as above ■stated be .placed-'beAre the.-.Council of .the British Medical Association, with the idea of securing co-operation in (ho attempt ito have tho CD. Act passed into law., ■■.'.■,

A brief discussion- took place on the matter of venereal diseases, and Mr. Ltiixford (Wnikato) expressed the hope that publicity in the most emphatic way would be given to the returned soldiers' desire to have the venereal diseases problem tackled courageously and legislation passed regarding it. The chairman remarked that what was necessary was insistence on notification. Until the cases were notifiable, how could they be traced? The whole point was not the CD. Act, but the notification. , .Mr. Cowles (Masterton) moved that the concluding words of the report, "To havq the CD. Act passed into law," bo altered to read, "To have venereal diseases made notifiable." The Kev. Walker (Christchurch) sup. ported both the report and the amendment, which was carried, and the report as amended was adopted. At to-night's sitting Mr. Batten moved, on Mr. Jocobs's behalf, to rescind the motion carried at the, afternotm sitting in favour of retrospective officers' pay. Mr. Elliott moved 'an amendment that retrospective pay be asked for, only for a eecond lieutenant. ' The amendment was lost on the voices, and the motion defeated by 28 votes to 20. A subsequent motion that no action should be taken in the matter for twelve months was carried. It. was unanimously agreed that headquarters should defray the expenses ot secretaries at the Secretaries' Conference. Mr. Harper, a member of the Pensions Board, addressed the conference on pensions administration, and answered numerous questions, receiving a hearty vote of thanks. , Qn concluding the Legal Committee subinitted the following resolution: "That a Bill be introduced into Parliament for the purpose of having April 25 made a close holiday, to bo called Anzae Day, in ..commemoration of. those who had fallen in the. great war.' The Bill 6hall also provide that oh Anzac Day all places of business and amusement shall be closed, also all hotels." The following definition of returned soldier was adopted: "Returned soldiers shall mean those persons who have served in or with His Majesty's Forces oversea during the great war and been honourably discharged or are awaiting honourable discharge," The following recommendation of the Legal .Committee was adopted: "That the Military Decorations and Distinctive Badges' Act, 1918, be amended to include the riband in addition to the relative order or medal, ami further giving the Goverhor-Goneral-in-Council power to make regulations safeguarding (he sale of ribands to unauthorised persons."