SOLDIERS’ CONFERENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10295, 2 June 1919, Page 6

SOLDIERS’ CONFERENCE

PROCEEDINGS AT CHRIST - CHURCH QUESTION OF PAID ORGANISERS. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 31. At tne Returned. Soldiers’ Conference last night the Organisation Committee recommended the creation of four districts, each of which should call a conference of associations to set up a district committee to consider the appointment and control of paid organisers. It was proposed that a rebate of 5s should Le made for each member transferred from one, association to another during the first three months of the financial year, except in the case of Rotorua. The proposed basis of representation of • local associations at the conference was one vote for every 200 financial members, or a fraction thereof, provided that no more than five delegates bo allowed to attend, nor any association should exercise more than forty votes.' It was proposed ihat each of the four centres in conference should elect one vice-president and three members, except in the case of Wellington, for which five members were recommended. The committeee also ;e----commendcd that in the event of any district committee or local association desiring to alter the constitution of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, to allow such association to rake political action, a referendum be taken of the principal members of all the 'ocal associations throughout New Zealand, Air Laing-moved tho adoption of the remit brought down by tho executive, the main point of which was that district organisers should be controlled by headquarters, and not by district committees. The remit was rejected on tho voices. An addition was agreed to, that any district committee or local association could enter another district with the consent of the district committee concerned, to combat any proposed alteration in the constitution, and that the headquarters should be empowered, with the consent of the district committee, to make or combat any similar proposals. It was decided that tho maximum number of delegates to the conference should be three, and that associations with a membership up to 1005 have cue delegate; up to 2500 two; over 2500 three. It was also decided that the basis representation be one vote for every tve hundred members.

A clause proposing a referendum on political action was held over until next conference. OFFICERS ELECTED.

The following officers wore elected■ President. Dr. Boxer; treasurer, Mr J. Alderich: executive; (Auckland) Messrs Watts, Long, Pollock, J. Ching; (Wellington) Batten, j lamer. Curtayno, Bali, Cories, Jacobs (Palmerston North was rixea as centre oi tne district;; (Canterbury) MrCallum. T,-adley. And arson. J. Scott; (Otago) McLean, Laing, Graham, Miller. QUESTION OF REPRESENTATION.

At the conference to-day tho queetion of the representation of associations .at conferences was re-opened. After considerable discussion it was decided that the basis of representation of all local associations should be one vote to 400 members and tlyit no association should have more than 2.1 votes, toe votes of the associations to he equally divided amongst delegates. It was further decided that ah questions snotiu. be settled by voting power, but the conference could as an alternative measure revert to the individual voting system. This reversion should lie settled, however. bv the voting power of the associations. The executive was instructed not to accent tho affiliation of any association which could not furnish satisfactorv evidence of an immediate membershin of at least 10!). This, however, 1* not to apply to associations already affiliated or in process m aaniaiion. L was provided that headquarters should accept no affiliation without reference to the district committees. ■ EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED - . MEN.

Tho following remit was considered: “That the Government be asked to set un !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 dmar-tmoots nn-’ other industries, and that in the event Of delay tne uisabiva man’s pension be mack siiffici-nf to !■-- •• f hem.until a position lis found for them.”

Alf; E. L<. Andrews (Auckland) stressed the importance of the matter and pointed out that the State was tho largtet employer in the country. He felt strongly en the matter because he considered these men were not being given! a fair deal bv the Government.

Mr W. E. Leadlev (Christchurch) said that not onlv did the Government not emnldv permanently disabled men. but ’it was unwilling to employ returned me" at all. A medical examination had to bo passed before a roan could enter the Government employment. further discussion tho remit carriod.■

The 1 managerial board of "Quick Sfnrch” was reappointed.

The repatriation committee's report was brought down and was considered seriatim. . A SUNDAY MEETING. CHRISTCHURCH. June 1.

Tho 1 conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association was resumed! bo-day (Sunday). On Mr McManus’s suggestion ’Mr Ballen agreed to strike out a recommendation in the repatriation report that an apprentice should not marry until ho was a competent tradesman.

A motion that all soldier apprentices should .receive the award rate was lost. A further motion that disabled men learning new trades should receive award rates was also lost, Air Ballen pointing out thn!t this, would 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 bo to train men to become independent' of Government assistance. It was resolved—" That having regard to the present groat scarcity of houses in New Zealand, tho conference urge on tho Government the immediate and pressing necessity for State action towards building, homos suitable for occupation by returned men and their dependents, arid that it be not confined to erecting blocks of houses on special Government areas, but to distribute houses in as many quarters of a town as possible.” The conference affirmed the principle that the, maximum grant for businesses should be increased from £3OO to £SOO, with £IOO free of interest.

The repatriation report was adopted with minor amendments.

Tho following definition of policy in regard to clubs was adopted!—(a) The object of a returned soldiers’ club is repatriatiyo, and is in no sense a reward for service; (b' tho club if built with public money should be rested in a board of trustees consisting of equal number* of cirilinn* and returned «oldlers. The Internal management of the club should bo delegated bv this board to the committee of, the looal association so long as such control and management Is satisfactory On Mr JBallance's motion it Iras resolved : "That tMs oonitTence considers tho Minister for internal Affairs has no right to make a general statement tts to the'advisability or othorwsio of ’ rettltnetl soldiers’ clubs. This is a matter of local needs, and does not admit of a general ruling. Since the legal position

Is not as stated by tbo Minister in vetoing the transfer of certain patriotic lands to returned soldiers this veio siiotud be at once removed.” On Mr McCallum’s motion it was resolved : “That the executive take any necessary steps to finally settle the legal questions involved in the matter of transfer to returned soldiers’ clubs oi certain patriotic funds.” On the recommendation of the executive subcommittee it was resolved that the land department and bureau should be constituted as a feature in activity of every association largo enough to warrant it; that the Now Zealand Association should appoint a Dominion land executive directly responsible to the executive charged with the association’s policy of land activities; and that a Dominion land office should be established in connection with headquarters under the control of a land organiser. At 5 p.m. the conference adjourned until 9.30 a.m. to-morrow.