RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 June 1919, Page 3

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

NATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, June 2. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association lias published an address -to members of Parliament and public men and public bodies in this country. It is a statement of the case for national reconstruction as viewed by the association, and requesting practical support. The main features of the scheme submitted are:—

1. The Government to require those connected with each individual industry (employed and employing) to furnish a report covering the present and prospective Dominion requirements of the industry in respect to (a) man power, (b) tarifl', (c) capital, • (d) necessary supplementary industries. 2. The Government to summon a Dominion industrial and repatriation conference to examine and collate reports with the object of forming a constructive policy for the whole Dominion, and to refer particularly to (a) the best distribution of our available man power, (b)_the desirability of advancing State capital for the initiation and development of ndustry, (c) the establishment of new industries, (d) the desirability of State ownership of particular industries and services, (c) a Dominion scheme of hydro-electric power, (f) a unified scheme of loading, railways, and communications generally, (g) a fiscal policy for the Dominion, (m) recommendations for Empire policy. DISCUSSIONS AT CONFERENCE. Christchureh, June 2. At the Returned Soldiers' Conference to-day the chairman said he had received notice of motion that the conference should resent the ambiguity of the Gazette notice relating to the suing of returned soldiers,' for debt, and should express the opinion that the inference that returned men needed protection in this direction was distinctly discreditable.

In the discussion it wa?.' pointed out that the regulation was likely to be a boomerang measure, like the prohibition of distraining on returned soldiers tor rent. It was ultimately decided that, the executive should take legal advice and watch carefully the effect of all regulations or legislation dealing with legal processes.

The general secretary reported that there was a surplus of £IOOO accumulated from the canteen funds from Trontham and other camps, and the Minister of Defence had asked for a recommendation. The executive suggested that the funds should form the nucleus of a pension fund for dependents of soldiers who died of the epidemic, and were not otherwise eligible. This was agreed to. A discussion took place on the special report sent out indicating that there was a, likelihood of a split in the ranks owing to dissatisfaction on the part of Auckland members with' regard to the basis of representation. After discussion, Mr. Balhousie (Auckland) moved that, having regard to the article in question, the conference denies the suggestion that there is apy grave danger of a split owing to the' report of the organisation committee, and is of opinion that the mover has been misrepresented. It wa3 resolved to meet next year in Wellington.