RETURNED SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 128, 2 June 1919, Page 7

RETURNED SOLDIERS

CONFERENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH

ELECTION OF OFFICERS,

(BT T2LEGKAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, 31st May. At the Returned Soldiers' Association Conference to-day the question of the representation of _ the association at the conferences was reopened. After considerable discussion it was decided that the basis of representation of all local associations should be one vots to every 400 members, and that no association should have more than 20 votes, the votes of the a-asooiations to be equally divided amongst the delegates. It, was further decided that all questions should be settled by voting power, but the conference, could, as an alternative measure, revert to the individual voting, but this reversion should be settled by the voting; power of the associations. The executive was instructed not to accept the affiliation of any association which could not furnish satisfactory evidence of an immediate membership of at. least 100, this, however, not to apply to associations already affiliated or in process of affiliation. It was provided that headquarters should -accept no affiliation • without reference to the district committees. PERMANENTLY DISABLED MEN. Tho following remit was considered: "That the Government bo. asked to set up a commission consisting of three men,. of .whom two shall be permanently disabled soldiers, to inquire into, the question of employing.permanently disabled men in Government departments and in other industries, .and that ir^ the event of delay the disabled men's pensions be made sufficient to keep them until positions are found for them." Mr. E.F. Andrews (Auckland) stressed _ the .importance of the matter, and pointed out that the State was the largest employer in the country. He felt strongly on the matter, because he considered that these men. were not being given-a fair .deal by tho Government. Mr. E. Leadley (Christchurch) said that not only did the' Governmen- not employ permanently, disabled men, but it was unwilling, to "employ returned men at all. A medical examination had to be passed before a man. could enter the Government employment.- . After further discussion the remit was carried. The Managerial Board of Quick March was reappointed. Tho- Repatriation Committee's report was brought down and considered seriatim. Little progress had; been made \vhcn the conference adjourned until tomorrow. ' HOUSING QUESTION. '" CHRISTCHURCH, Ist June. • The Conference of the New . Zealand Returned .Soldiers' Association resumed to-day (Sunday). On Mr. M'Manns's suggestion Mr. Batten agreed to strike out the recommendation in tho repatriation report that an apprentice should not marry until he was a competent tradesman. ,* A motion that all soldier ap'm-entices should receive the award rate was lost. A further motion, that disabled men learning new trades phould receive award rates, was also lost. Mr. Batten pointing out that this'-wonkl mean a rush to the highest paid trades, in which there was. no guarantee that a man would ever become fully competent. The policy, should.be to train men to become independent oE Government assistance. It was resolved: "That, having regard to the present great scarcity of houses in New Zealand, the conference urges on the Government the inimediate^and pressing necessity for State action towards building homes' suitable for occupation by returned men and their dependents, andthat it should not be confined to erecting blocks of houses on special Government areas, but should distribute houses in as many quarters of the town as possible." REPATRIATION REPORT. The conference affirmed tho principle that the maximum grant for businesses should be increased from £300 to £500, with £ICO free of interest. The-repatriation report was adopted, with minor amendments.The following definition' of policy in regard to the clubs was adopted:— (a) The object of a returned soldiers', club is repatriative, and is In no 3cnse a reward for service; ■ (b) The club,'if built with., public money," should be vested- in a board of trustees consisting of equal numbers of, •civilians and. returned soldiers. The internal management of clubs should be delegated by this board to' the committee of the local association, so long' as i such control and management are satis- j factory. ' ■ On Mr. Ballance's motion it was resolved: "That this conference considers that the Minister of Internal Affairs has no right to moke a general statement'as to the advisability or otherwise of returned soldiers' clubs. This is a matter of local, needs, and does not admit of a general ruling, since the legal. position is not os stated by the Minister in the : vetoing of transfer of certain patriotic funds to returned soldiers, this veto to bo at once removed." On Mr. M'Callum's motion it was resolved : "That the executive take any necessary steps to finally settle the legal questions involved in the matter of the transfer to returned soldiers' clubs of certain ( patriotic funds." On the recommendation of the Executive Sub-Committee it was resolved that a Land Department and bureau should be constituted as a feature in the activity of every association large enough to warrant it; that the New Zealand Association should appoint a Dominion Land Executive directly responsible to the Executive, and charged with the association's policy of land activities; that a Dominion Land Office should be established in connection with Headquarters, under the control of a land organiser. The Finance Committee estimated the income for tho incoming year at £3750, and the expenditure at £3883 15s, A motion to ask the Government to set up a Commission to inquire into the question of employing permanently disabled men in Government Departments and other industries was carried. . ELECTION OF OFFICERS. - The following officers were elected:— President, Dr. Boxer; treasurer, Mr. R. C. Aldricli; executive —Auckland, Messrs. Watts, Long, Pollock,, and Ching; Wellington. Messrs. 'Batten, Harper, Cnrtayne, Bell, Corles, and Jacobs (Palmerston North was fixed a.s the centre of the district) ; Canterbury, Messrs. M'Cal-. lum, Leadley, Anderson, and Scott; Otago; Messrs. M'Lean, Laing, Graham,. and Miller.