RETURNED SOLDIERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10606, 3 June 1920, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS

DOMINION CONSTITUTION PROPOSED AMENDMENT APPROVED. A proposal that the constitution of the. New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association ho amended has been approved as follows: — “That the basis of organisation shall bo the N.Z.R.S.A. composed of affiliated and incorporated local asspeiations. ‘‘That tho present district committees bo authorised to call forthwith conferences of delegates from local associations. “That such conferences determine their own form of district organisa tion, annual conferences, voting powei, executive and the like, provided always that tho annual general meeting of tiie district conference shall be hold in the month of May in each year. “Further districts may be _established by tho sub-division of existing districts, provided that the districts affected oy such sub-division consent thereto, and that such sub-division is approved by tho Dominion executive, provided always that there shall not at any time be more than six districts in the Dominion.

“Each district conference shall forthwith establish groups of local associations within its district, provided always that the total membership of the local associations comprising any such group shall not bo lessthan 4CO financial members at the time when such group is established; provided further that there shall not be in any district more than ten (10) groups'. ‘‘The objects of the district organisation shall be to promote the welfare of returned soldier's within the limits of the constitution of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, provided always that each district shall be subject to the control of the Dominion council of the New_ Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, and that a district conference or executive shall not have to determine lines of national policy. DOMINION COUNCIL.

“The council shall consist of delegates to he appointed to exercise voting powers as follows: (a) As to . tho number of.delegates to the Dominion council; each group having up to and including 1000 financial members as at March 31st preceding the annual conference, one delegate; each group having from 1001 to 2500 inclusive, such financial members, two delegates; groups having over 2500 members, three delegates.” “These delegates shall be elected by the delegates to the annual district conference and notice of their names and appointments shall bo sent forthwith to tho general secretary of the Dominion council.

“As to the number of votes for each district at the Dominion conference: •Each district shall be entitled to one vote for every 400 financial members or part thereof, comprised in the total financial membership of such district; financial membership ■ to mean members who are financial on March 31st preceding tho annual meeting of the Dominion conference. As to- the distribution of ' votes among delegates: Every delegate iilmll" have one vote, and the balance of the votes to which any district is entitled shall bo distributed among the delegates as the annual meeting of the district conference shall decide. LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS.

“Any local association may, if it thinks fit, send a delegate to any meeting of the Dominion council who shall have tho right to Aimak, but not to vote.”* Five districts were established as ■follow :—Auckland, Wellington, Nelson and Marlborough, Canterbury, and Otago. , It was also decided that local associations should pay organisation capitation direct to district executives, and headquarters capitation direct to headquarters.