RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1919, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

Executive meeting. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington,, Last Night. The quarterly meeting of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association was hold during the week-end.

The board of management of the Quick March presented a report which was regarded as very satisfactory. The chairman (Mr. Harper) also announced the resignation of Mr. L. S. Fanning, associate editor, as from September. A resolution was carried expressing appreciation of Mr. Fanning's services and regretting that circumstances hud arisen which in Mr. Manning's opinion made it advisable for him to resign hia position.

The following affiliations of new associations were approved: Waiuku, Woodville and district, Waipawa, Levin, Te Awamutu, Whakatane county, Waihi and Opotiki county. The president stated that MajorGeneral Russell had agreed to the request that he should on the Association's behalf inspect the soldiers' settlement in and around his district. The announcement was cordially received, and, at the General's suggestion, an order of;' reference was prepared for his guidance.

Following the request of the Minister of Defence when answering representatives of the executive on Saturday, a detailed list of the Association's requirements arising under the principle of retrospection was arranged and ordered to be forwarded to Sir James Allen.

It was resolved to ask tho Government to make arrangements to exempt returned soldiers from fines in connects with the stamp duty on land and arising out of the delay for which the soldier was not responsible. A letter from' the Hawera Association suggesting that life members should be admitted on, the payment of a subscription of £5 was referred to the next conference.

A discussion arose on the present action of the Defence Department in remitting fines imposed on soldiers oa active service. Strong exception was taken by the executive to the extreme leniency displayed in remitting the severe fines imposed as a result of imprisonment with hard labor, thus condoning the offences and making men eligible for admission into tho Returned Soldiers' Association by virtue of the fact of such remissions which cleared their characters. It was resolved that the Minister's attention be drawn to the fact that men were receiving large remissions of fines, and that the Association recommended that regulations be tightened up considerably. It was resolved that the Railway Department be asked to make immediate provision for the carriage of building material and stock to soldiers' settlements.

It was decided that tho executive, subject to the general principles involved, and to notifications to local Associations of its viewß and full reasons therefor, may modify the conclusions reached by the conference if in its opinion such modifications are vitally and immediately necessary in view of new conditions having arisen.