RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3416, 21 February 1920, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS ’ ASSOCIATION.

METING OF COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the committee of the Taihape and District R-.S.A. was held last night, when ten members of the committee attended.

Fob flflome time past I'll.llloul\S have been in circulation to the ‘efl-ect that conference. Inquiries were ,::§:,hum3l letters were receivd from Other’ d:llle_‘ gates vouehing for the attendaneeiof the Taihape delegate at both conferenees. The eneral sec-ct . . wrote, exl)l'ess%ilg the opinliorfrlrhatalllg was personally satisfied that the Tai. hape delegate attended both conferences. Letters from two other delegates not acquainted with the Tlaihape delegate expressed no opinion regarding; the attendance of the latter. Mr Wrights-on moved, and Mr Williams seconded: “That this committee is satisfied that the -delegate appointed did attend the conference, and that in the opinion of the committee the character of the delegate is as clear as it was before he left for the conference. The motion was carried unanimously.

The reply of the Minister of Internal Affairs to the Association ’s representations regarding a released German internee being allowed to start business at Mangawekt in opposition to '3. returned‘ soldier was read. The Minister stated that. Germans who had been interned were not necessarily dangerous in time of peace. It was not practic'able to deport all internees, some of whom were married to English women, nor was it. consistent with the terms of peace with Germany to prevent. Germans who remained. in the country from carrying on trade. The secretary stated that he had made further inquiries, and found tlrat the wife and children of t'lli sparticular German had been resident in Germany for some years. and are still in Germany. It was decided that the m'ltter be urge. ntly represented to headquarters, the Repatriation Department, and to the iVlinister of Internal Afl"airs. The secretary referred to a rumour which had been in circulation for some time to the effect that the application o.l’ a returned soldierrfor a business mr. had been declined on the recommendation of a. man in the same line‘of business. ‘This rumour had been investigated, land it was found that it had -absolutely no foundation in fact. The name of the business. man concerned was never mentioned except to combat a statement by theapplicant that there was no one in the same line of business in the town. The secretary stated he was sati§fied the application had been declined for perfectly legitimate reasons, and he hoped every member of the Coinmittec and of the Association would contradict the rumour if thev heard it ‘again.