RETURNED SOLDIERS'

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 126, 30 May 1919, Page 7

RETURNED SOLDIERS'

ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

PAT AND ALLOWANCES.

(Bx TBLEQRAj?H»"~"PRES3 ASSOCIATIONi)

CHRISTCHURCH, 29th May.

At the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Conference, remits dealing with tubercular and venereal cases were considered. In regard to the former, it was agreed that the Government was attempting to nope with the position, but ;the sanatoria accommodation was insufficient, and a. motion was passed pretesting iigaitut the attitude of the residents, of Devonport which forced the authorities to close Narrow Neck Camp. The ■delay in getting men fitted with artificial limbs was discussed, and a remit was .carried to the effect that an export should be obtained, and placed in' charge of the central factory, and better allowances and accommodation 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, out-patiente at hospitals, be increased immediately to 4s per day. ■ T,he matter of demanding an extra shilling a. day for members, of the. tunnelling corps, to bring the pay to 6s, 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. HOSPITAL BLUE. A remit which .was referred by the 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 the course of its report, the committee said it was of the- opinion that the objection to hospital blue was caused "by the disgracefully-fitting garments at present issued. -The committee recommended that the Minister for Defence be urged to hasten the fulfilment of his promise to have a proper-fitting garment on issue. The president said that properly-fitting blues were now being issued by the Government as fast as they could be supplied. Ho thought, in fairness to the Department, the conference should recognise it was attempting to tackle the question. Mr. DaJhousie (Aucklsuid) moved an amendment that the regulations regarding blue uniforms should be extended to include officers. After some discussion, Mr. Dalhousie, amidst applause, withdrew liia amendment, and tho remit and the committee's report were passed. Mr. Ballen moved on Mr. Jacob's behalf to rescind ■ the motion carried at the afternoon sitting in favour of retrospective officers' pay... Mr. Elliott moved >an amendment: "That retrospective pay be asked only for second lieutenants."

The amendment was lost on the voices and the motion defeated by 28 to 26. A subsequent motion ■ that no action should be taken in the matter for twelve mjmths was carried. .' ' ■ ■

It was unanimously agreed that, the headquarters should defray tho expenses of 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 on concluding. ' ■ The Legal Committee' submitted the following resolution: "That a Bill be introduced into Parliament for the purpose of having' 25th April made a close holiday, to be called Anzac Day, irr'commemoration of those who had fallen in the great war.; The Bill shall also provide that on Anza-c Day all places of business and amusement shall- be closed, also all hotels." , .

The following definition of returned soldier was adopted: "Returned soldier shall mean those persons who have served in or with His Majesty's Forces oversea during the great war, and have been honourably discharged or are awaiting honourable discharge." ' The following recommendation of the Legal Committee was adopted: '.'That the Military Deporations and Distinctive Badges Act, 1918, be amended* to include tho riband in addition to' the relative order or medal, and further giving the Governor-General in Council power to make regulations safeguarding the sale of ribands to unauthorised persons."