RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 53, 26 November 1919, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS

WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION

VARIOUS MATTERS DISCUSSED

A meeting of tho Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association was held last night at the Masonic Hall, Boulcott Street. Mr. A. J. Curtayne presided. Mr. A. B. Siovwright moved: "That the Government's attention bo drawn, with a view of adjustment on tho lower rate, to the fact that, -under the Advances to Settlers' scheme, the basic rate of interest is i-} per cent., while under the Disohnrgod Soldiere' Settlement Act it is 5 per cent., and that, if m is proposed, U!12,fl0fl,Ofll)- is loaned under tho D.S.S. Act, returned soldiers will have to pay i£GO,OOO per annum more as compared with loans under the advances to settlors' scheme."

Mr. J. Kenny seconded tho motion which ww earned.

With regard to tho suggestion that a permanent returned soldiers' club should ho establisliod in Wellington, Mr Siovwright stated that -the executive had tho matter in hand. Negotiations for the purchase of a building for a club were in progress, and a definite scheme would be ready by January. He moved that further consideration of tho matter bo postponed until January, when a -public meeting of tho association could be held to diaouss tho question. Mr. M. Badger raised a point of order on tho ground that a oommitteo had been sot up to go into tho subject, and it had not yet brought down itg report Mr. Sievwright said that some of the members who had l»en elected to thp committee had refused'to not, therefore others would have to 'be chosen in their place.

The chairman said ho considered that the point of order must be upheld. After furthor discussion, Mr. W. Perry gave notice of motion that the previous motion setting up the committee bo rescinded, and that, in the meantime, tho matter of tho ohib be left in tho hands of tho executive. The Dominion Executive. Mr. A. B. ; Siovwright moved: "That this meeting of the W.R.S.A. protests against and condemns the undemocratic action of the Dominion Executive in selecting and appointing Wellington representatives to tha,t executive without consulting tho wishes of tha members of the association, ana; further, that this Association has no confidence m the Wellington representatives, and urges their resignation, with the object of having an eleotion of those recommended for appointment." ' Mr. Siovwright said there was a groat principle involved, and that was the members' right of nomination to tho Dominion Executive.' He held.that the Dominion Executive had entirely lost tho confidence of the members of the Wellington Association because it had opnosed the best interests df returned soldiers. (A voice: Question!) The executivo sub-committee haa' not been democratic in its actions, and the general secretary and the 6ub-committees had flouted the wishes of the groat majority of the returned uoldiers. In appointing two Wellington mombors the Dominion Exop.utivo nad been guilty of an autocratic, action, because tho Wellington Association had had no voice in tho mat* tor. One of the .Wellington' delegates appointed to the executive was a man who. at tho association meetings and at tho conference, had expressed opinions coj trarv to the general wishes of returnee men. Voices: Name! Mr. Sievwright: "I am not going to dabble in personalities." Ho asked the association to affirm that the,principle of democratic action should not be allowed to ptrish. ' Mr. J. .Randall seconded the motion. Mr. H. J. Ackins objected to the motion for the reason that it attacked the cenoral secretary (Mr. Seymour), who' hud. done good wol'k for tho returned men. but "aid not go round town skitinc of what ho did." Ho'moved as an amendment that Mr. Sievwright bo ap--, pointed to the executive of the N.2.R.5.A, at the firs.t available opportunity. . Mr. Sievwright objected to what he characterised as a "flippant and foolish", amendment, and he demanded' its withdrawal. The chairman 6aid he had no power to accent tho amendment, as tho Wellington Association could not appoint members of the Dominion Eieoutivo. Mr. W. Perry: I am ono of those two, individuals who were recently appointed to tho executive of the N.X.R.S.A. 'Mr. Randall: You have not been appointed. Mr. Perry: "In order to meet Mr. Randall's fine sense of acouracy I shall 6ay 'recommended for appointment.'" As far as the. Wellington R.S.A. vas concerned he hud devoted as much time and interest to its affairs as he was ablo to do. Ho wanted to tell Mr. Sievwright that in tho' last fifteen years no ono could say that ho was not u democrat. "And I want to toll him," continued Mr. Perry, "that I have done more for democracy in this city than lie has done or is over likely to do." Tho matter was outside the scope of tho Wellintgon Association. The Dominion Executive represented tho whole of thei returned soldiers iu New Zealand, and it had power to fill .vacancies when 6ucii occurred. The -representatives thus selected did not represent any particular association. Now that ho had been recommended for appointment to the executive he intended to stay there' until the next conference in May. There was nothing undemocratic about tho business, and' all Mr. SievwrigM's talk of democracy and tho rights of this, that, and tho'otier vrns so much "moonshine."

Mr, L. Aebns moved au amendment! "That the motion lie on the tablo until tliig day twelve months."

The amendment was seconded. The Amendment was lost and the motion was named.

Mr. A. Kylo then moved: "That this meeting of the Wellington R.S.A. colls for the resignation of tho local executive in order that a fresh election may take place on democratic lines." ' Mr. J. Kenny seconded the motion'.' The chairman ruled that the matter must como forward by notice of motion, bo Mr. Kyle gayo notice accordingly. Ultra Vires? Captain K. T. B. Dre.v gave notice of motion: '"That it be on instruction to tho local executive to ascertain from our legal representative whether tho taking of this business nt this meeting is not ultra vires." The mooting might be a "packed" one, he. Enid. Mr. Siovwright called for a withdrawal of the term "packed." Captain Drew said he would withdraw the remark, but ho pointed out that ho only stated that tho meeting "might bo 'paoked.'" ,Mr. S'ievwright demanded an unqualified withdrawal. Captain Drew had cast a reflection on the members of the association. . Captain Drew denied that ho had cast any reflections. He had withdrawn tho remark, but he had a perfect right to state a reason for bringing the notice of motion forward.

After further explanations Hie matter dropped. , ~

Mr. Siovwright moTed: "That all roliorts from the W.B.S.A. to bo published in 'Quick March' shall bo approved by tho executive, and that, this meeting protests asaiust the paragraph en pages 57 and 53 of the November, 1919, issuo." In doing so, Mr. Sievwright criticised a statement which had boon published in "Quick March" under the heading of "Extremists v. Moderates." The paragraph referred to certain proceedings of the W.R.S.A., but Mr. Sfevwright said that -what was published was "pure trine." The motion was oarried.