RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1919, Page 3

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.]

WELLINGTON, October 24

At to-day’® sitting of the Returned Soldiers’ Association Conference, the sub-committee set up to investigate the working of the soldiers financial board presented a report expressing dissatisfaction with the body’s methods. The Committee strongly recommended that the Government be pressed to vest the whole administration of the Act in the Repatriation Board’s on the following grounds: —{a) That the regulations will be more sympathetically construed by reason of the local knowledge of the applicants: (b) That decentralisation will, further assist the application inasmuch as the Board could personally come into contact with him and arrive at a conclusion without the delay now experienced; (c) That a rep- | resentative in each district be allowed to! appear before the Board to assist applicants to place any evidence before he Board. > The following motion passed in committee was reported to the Advisory Council in open session:—That the Executive and Advisory Council of the ; N.Z.R.S.A., urges upon the Government to the administrations and disposition : that a Royal Commission to inquire in- ' of the war funds of the Dominion, which the Association has previously j pressed for, be set up without delay ! and that the order of reference of that , Commission be as previously laid down. Mr Bell (Wairoa) then moved “that this advisory Council of the N.Z.R.S.A., places on record its approval of the action of the Executive in regard to war funds taken in accordance with the terms of the resolution pfissed by the Christchurch Conference and in accordance with the Executive’s request lays it down that no further action be taken except as provided for in the motion pressing for a Royal Commission.

The.motion was carried without discussion.