RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1919, Page 1

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

(.FEU PBEBB ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.]

FURTHER DECISIONS

WELLINGTON, This Day,

The R.S.A. Conference carried a motion that provisions of the Discharged ■soldiers Settlement Act should be extended to include veterans of the South African campaign. It was also resolved that the benefits of the D. S. Act bo extended to medically unfit soldiers discharged from military camps. A committee was appointed to enquire into the conditions governing the administration at headquarters, and investigate the relations between the Executive subcommittee and the office staff.

The Finance Committee reported that, alter considering the financial statement as at the 30th September, it was obvious that Headquarters could not rely sufficiently on renewals for its support. At this date there were approximately nine thousand unfinancial members whereas the immediate liabilities amounted to £lO4l os Id. The cash and readily realisable assets only totalled £655 14s 6d. The Committee suggested that some drastic measures be taken by the local Associations' with regal’d to collecting outstanding renewals, and that the instruction that returns be furnished to headquarters monthly be rigidly adhered to. Owing to the fact that headquarters • cannot rely upon renewals, the .Committee recommended that the capitation to headquarters be increased to 2s 6d ; per member for new members, with renewals remaining as at present, viz., 2s. The Committee recommended that in cases where a Member of the Executive ■ is representing an Association at the Conference Ids'expenses shall be divided equally between tlie headquarters and the local Association represented. The Committee especially drew the attention of the conference to the item : / “local, Associations to headquarters, £2296 5s 2d. . This amount was actually owing by local Associations for badges supplied and renewals. The statement of estimated income and expenditure showed an excess of expenditure over income of £Bl2. The report was received .

Mr Petherick .moved: “That this Conference requests Parliament to grant

the R.S.A. Clubs charters to enable them to sell alcoholic beverages.” He pointed out .that’ it was the soldiers who prevent New Zealand becoming a prohibition. H® urged that the charter

would keep the clubs. ; Mr Vf .Potter (Auckland), seconded the motion pro“fdrma, but objected to the liquor issue being brought into R.S. V. business. *

Mr Ching (Kawakawa) said that ns a prohibitionist lie would move the motion be now put. This was seconded by Mr B. B.'Bell (Wairoa). ;

Mr Petherick said it was a little gag on the part of the opposition to prevent the question being properly discussed and fairly put. A delegate interjected—Not in favour of liquor in soldiers clubs. Mr Petherick contended that chartered soldiers clubs would be better able to govern the supply of liquor to members than under the present system with men drinking in hotels. The closure was carried. Mr Petherick’s motion was then put and decisively rejected by 39 to 2. There was a warm discussion on the question of. competition 'from Hindus and Chinese with returned soldiers. The Conference was dealing with remit from the Repatriation Committee asking tb c Conference to draw attention of the Government to the increasing numbo of Hindus arriving in New Zealand and to request that the Immigration Restriction Act bo amended to stop without further delay the immigration of Hindus and Chinese. Mr Land, Auckland, stfbmitted that the increase of aliens and especially Hindu immigration, during the war, constituted very serious menace to the country. Australia, he said, had declared for “A White Australia,” and had never gone hack on it. Mr Petherick (Christchurch), entered a plea for the Chinese. He pleaded for a policy of live. and let live, and t’British had forced themselves into ' na at tho cannon’s mouth. The recommendations were adopted.