MEN AND MONEY

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3657, 25 June 1927, Page 3

MEN AND MONEY

WARTIME CONSCRIPTION. V.C.’s PLAN. LONDON, June 11. Major-General Coffin, V.C., from Ceylon, during tire discussion at the Empire Service League Conference on the conscription of property in wartime, suggested that on the declaration of war the income and person of every citizen should he taken for the service of the State, ami that they should receive pay and allowances at the military rate. Colonel Last pointed out that Australia, by referendum, twice defeated conscription. The Australians sympathised. with the idea that the whole resources should be at the disposal of the State; but each community must itself decide the best means of application. The conference decided that • the matter was too political for its decision. RELIEVING DISTRESS. Captain Fraser-East, of Queensland, urged that the United Services Fund should allocate further funds to relieve distressed Imperial ex-service meu in the Dominions. General More referred to the enormous calls on the fund, adding that the best would be done. He referred to the Canadian gift of £IO,OOO to assist Canadians in Britain, and hoped that others would follow this example. Captain Dyett (Australia) pointed out that many Imperial service men who went to Australia were assisted by private philanthropy. They were often unfit for work, and became a heavy drain on Australians. Mr Connollv (Irish Free State) emphasised the widespread distress among ex-servicemen, and added that unfortunately the Free State Lad not benefited by the Empire Settlement Act. • AUSTRALIA NEXT TIME The conference decided to send representatives to the International Conference of Service Men at Luxembourg, in the capacity of observers only, Captain Dyett and Mr Stewart declaring that Australia and New Zealand did not agree with the league linking up with any international organisation. It was decided that the next biennial conference will be held in Australia.