RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1919, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

DOMINION R.S.A. CONFERENCE. DISCUSSION ON RULES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association opened this afternoon. Dr. Boxer (Hastings) presided. Prior to the commencemen-t of business the question of the representation of affiliated associations was brought up, and Mr. N. A. Ching (Kawa Kawa), detailed the legal position regarding the resolution passed at the Christchurch Conference. He said the matter had been referred by the executive to Mr. 0. P. Skerrett, K.C., who had replied that the resolution which governed the representation of the association at a future conference was mandatory. Therefore representation could not be accepted as at September 30, 1919. He pointed out, further, that if the conference was unanimous, and it must be unanimous, representation could be accepted up to September 30, provided such action was confirmed at a subsequent conference.

Considerable discussion took place on the point, and it was stated that the executive had endeavoured to discover a method by which that difficulty could be overcome.

31 the membership of the associations had almost doubled, and on the present consttutions those new members and new associations were without representation at toe present conference.

A motion that the associations which have affiliated since March 31 last should have one delegate and one vote was declared carried unanimously. Mr. P. H. Watts (Hamilton) moved that this conference adopt, for the purpose of registration of votes, the latest available financial membership of the association with a view to the proceeding being confirmed by the latest resolution upon which voting shall be taken m technical accordance with the constitution. On a show of hands this was declared lost'.

the question of proxies on voting was then raised, and the chairman pointed out that he had foreseen an anomaly, which was that voting had taken place on the present constitution, but before there had been anv roll call. <-

Mr. Watt recognised there was a division of opinion in the conference on the point, and he asked, and was granted, leave to withdraw his motion.

After further discussion, it. wan decided that all the associations represented at the conference should have full voting power, which they were entitled to as at March 31, and whatever the' number of delegates those delegates might use their full voting power. Amongst the delegates present were Messrs. C. Gowei (Stratford), and rl. L Spratt (Hawera). ( ,rJ he f r llowiD S resolution was carried: That the conference learns with gratification that the dispute between the Auckland district council and the executive of the N.Z.E.S.A. lias been settled." It was decided to instruct the legal committee to bring down a definition of the meaning of the word non-political as appearing in the eonatitution.