VETERANS’ HOME

Evening Star, Issue 20056, 22 December 1928, Page 3

VETERANS’ HOME

COMMISSION TO INQUIRE A special meeting of tho executive committee of the Returned Soldiers’ Association was held m the R.S.A. Club rooms, Moray place, last night, Mr H. L. Patterson being in the chair. Tho business of tho meeting was to consider special matters in connection with the establishment of a homo or homes lor men adversely affected by their service in tho Croat War. Tho Dunedin Association in July last submitted to N.Z.R.S.A. headquarters a proposal that a Commission should le sot up to go into the whole question in conjunction with tho Regimental and Canteen Trust Funds Board and then report to tho next annual conference of tho R.S.A. If it was found necessary tho report would bo presented to tha Government. The meeting was culled us the result of a letter received from N.Z.R.S.A. headquarters detailing the arrangements for tho proposed Commission ol Inquiry. Tho local association, in conjunction with Gore,. Invercargill, and Or.maru, was asked to appoint a representative on this Commission. Tho letter further stated that two members of tho Canteens’ Fund Board would bo appointed to tho Commission. Mr A. I j. Laing thought that tho Dunedin Association should select a man who would be able to participate, submit his name to tho other associations, and ask their approval. Ho did not think that this could bo construed as high-liatidcd action. Mr Walker said that whatever was done must be done at once, as there was to bo a meeting of the Commission in mid-January. Mr F. J. Anderson said that, as a u alter of fact, tiro whole scheme was formulated by tho Dunedin Association, and his personal opinion was that they siiould telegraph tho kindred associations stating that tho meeting had been bold, and informing them of what had been done. The chairman said that it was a most important mutter, and tho inquiry was to bo held right throughout New Zealand. They would have to get tho best man they could, one who had a knowledge of pension work, a knowledge of evidence, and one who also had a working knowledge ot the working of such a home. Mr Laing raised tho question of how long such a representative would lie engaged, and what remuneration lie would receive. He suggested, in ilie meantime, that they should appoint a representative to attend tho preliminary' meeting, and tho permanent representative could bo appointed later. Mr Walker sa.id that tho most suitable man in his opinion was the secretary ot tho local association, Mr J. if. White, as lie had tho whole position at his finger-tips, and they could get a temporary secretary to carry on in the meantime.

Mr Laing said that, to test the feeling of the committee, lie would move that Mr White ho appointed to act as tho representative at the preliminary meeting, and that the other associations bo asked to approve of this. The motion was seconded by M.r Walker and carried.