RETURNED SOLDIERS

Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 24

RETURNED SOLDIERS

DOMINION ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE. (Photograph in This Issue.) WELLINGTON, June 23. Ihe annual , conference of the New* Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association was opened to-day. Sir Andrew Russell presided.? The Mayor (Mr T. C. A. Hislop) opened the proceedings. bir Andrew, in thanking the Mayor, remarked that in him the association had found a new friend. The association accepted the recent cut of 10 per cent, on ex-soldiers' economic pensions, recently decided upon by the Government. An adverse amendment was heavily defeated. The Pensions Afteitreatment Committtee recommended that the action of Mr J. D. Harper, Dominion treasurer, in respect to the cut in economic pensions be endorsed and that his report on the subject be adopted. On the recommendation of the Pensions and After-treatment Committee, it was agreed that T.B. patients who wou Id normally be admitted to the Kew Sanatonum should have the option of goinff ' to any other sanatorium in the South Island. An Auckland remit was approved to the effect that the constitution of the .War Pensions Appeal Board be not altered and that the services of a permanent secretary be retained. A commission, consisting of the chairman of the War Pensions Appeal Board (Sir Water Stringer) and Drs Acland and Wylie, was appointed to investigate the whole question of the supply and repair of artificial limbs. The conference expressed the opinion that the wives of men in receipt of full pensions for dual disabilities, who are otherwise organically sound and who marry at any time after their discharge, should be eligible to receive pensions. It was decided to urge the Government to take immediate steps to put into operation all the findings of the Rehabilitation Commission.

The executive was authorised to frame regulations for the manufacture and distribution of poppies. High appreciation of the valuable services which Mr J. D. Harper, the Dominion treasurer, had rendered to the association on the subject of pensions was expressed Mr P. S. Anderson (Dunedin) movefl that the executive investigate the question of endeavouring to have pensions granted to aged ex-soldiers along the lines of the Canadian Act. He considered the time was coming when the war relief funds should be amalgamated. Mr B. J. Jacobs said the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association had dealt with the question of pensions very thoroughly depart from their set policy. The Rehabilitation Commission was trying to get what Mr Anderson was after, and the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association had determined to move for this whole-heartedly. The question was held over until the report of another committee had been received. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. WELLINGTON, June 24. The New Zealand Returned Association Conference carried the following remits:— That in necessitous cases of returned soldiers mortgagors under the State Advances Department the mortgagor should have the right to obtain a readjustment of the terms of his mortgage on proper application. That while not expressing any dissatisfaction with the existing Land Board, representations should be made to the Government to enable Returned Soldiers" Association to have representation on the boards.

That the Government be urged to introduce legislation providing for a revaluation of house properties secured t® the Crown under the Discharged Soldiers Act or the State Advances Department. The election of officers resulted a» follows:—President, Sir Andrew Russell: vice-president, Mr W. Perry; district vice-presidents—General Sir George Richardson (Auckland), Messrs B. J. Jacobs (Wellington), W. G. Lloyd (Canterbury). and W. D. Skelton (Otago); Dominion hon. treasurer, Mr J. D. Harper; General Committee—Messrs A T. Duncan, C. W. Batten, N. A. Vercoe. E. F. Willcox, O. L Ferens, and C. A. C. Sexton; delegate to the Canteen Funds* Board, Colonel M. Aldred; to the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Mr M. M’Conachie; to the War Pensions Board, Mr J. D. Harper. DELEGATES ENTERTAINED. WELLINGTON, June 25. The delegates to the conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association were last night entertained by the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association. Among those present was the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe), who said he hoped during the next four years to have many opportunities of becoming more familiar with the individual members of the association.