RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1919, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

THE DOMINION CONFERENCE, THE AUCKLAND DISPUTE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. I Wellington, Last Night, i The Conference of the New Zealand' R.S.A. continued its sittings on Saturday. Mr. P. C. Walsh gave notice of motion that the resolution passed in reference to the dispute between the Auckland Association and headquarters be rescinded, and the terms of settlement' be divulged to the conference. Mr T. Long, Auckland, said he intended to move the recommittal of the whole matter for the purpose of endeavoring to find a solution of the difficulty, so that the delegates might know .exactly what happened. Mr Long k inoved, and Mr V. Potter (Auckland) .seconded, That the matter be committed. - The president said that if the matter ;wati reopened there must be no discussion. i Y Mr Long's motion was carried, and jithe conference w.ent into committee to jeonsider the situation' further. On resuming, Mr. Walsh withdrew his notice of motion. At the R.S.A. Conference Saturday evening was devoted to questions of organisation. The Organisation and Legal Committee reported that the word "non-political" was not capable of a strict definition in the legal sense, and, in the absence of an interpretation, the Clause Committee considered that the intention of the framers of the constitution must be inferred to be that the exertion of influence Upon the Legislature < by direct or indirect means, was not intended to he included, so long as no action was taken to affect the personnel of the House of Representatives. A vital question in connection with organisation was provincial autonomy, raised by the Auckland Provincial Committee, and this urged that the matter should be dealt with by the conference at the earliest possible moment. Mr. W. E. Leadlcy (Christchurch) said questions to political candidates would interfere with the personnel of the House. They were satisfied in their own minds aB to what the word "nott-politieal" meant. The committee's report was adopted. PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVES. Mr. P. H, Watts (Hamilton) moved the adoption of certain remits dealing with organisation, namely that four provincial associations be established and incorporated under the "Incorporated Societies Act," covering the same territory as the committees set up by the 1919 conference, and affiliated with the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, tlie local association to be affiliated to each respective provincial association and withdrawn from direct membership of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, the provincial association to be governed by provincial conferences and provincial executives set up; the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association to be governed by aii executive of two delegates from each provincial association, such officers as such executive shall appoint of any provincial association to have power in the New Zealand executive by their combined votes to veto any proposal submitted to the executive.

Mr. Watts considered there was need for reorganisation of control. As chairman of the Auckland executive it had been brought home to him tlmt there was an inveterate difference of opinion as to the policy of the association between Auckland and some other parts of New Zealand. The remits sought to end that situation. Mr. Bullard (Gisborne) argued that the four provincial executives would not be autonomous, but would savor of autocracy. If any association wanted to withdraw from the Dominion Association let them do so. Messrs T. Long (Auckland) arid D. Colquhoun (Dunedin) supported an amendment that Auckland be referred to the Legal and Organisation Committee for a definite scheme. Mr. A. J. Curtayne (Wellington) failed to see why any two delegates of any provincial association should have the power in the New Zealand executive, by their combined votes, to vpto any proposal submitted to the executive. Mr. W. Perry (Wellington) opposed the remits, and said that if the scheme proposed by Auckland was carried the small associations would not have the opportunity of .being adequately represented at the New Zealand Conference Mr. E. F. Andrews (Auckland) said that the smaller associations at present' ivere not all represented at the Dominion as was evidenced by the proxies received asking for representation by other delegates.

WEAK ORGANISATION. Mr. G. Mitchell (organiser of the Wellington Provincial Returned Soldiers' Association) said there was great weakness in the present organisation. Provincial committees did not have sufficient jurisdiction over their provinces. The Auckland scheme was weak, as it created four distinct executives, each with its own policy. There should be one centra! policy dictated by New Zealand Headquarters and carried out by the four provincial executives. Mr. C. W. Batten (vice-president) said the present organisation was becoming unweildy and needed improvement. He objeoted to absolute decentralisation, as it would affect the settlement of national problems. Mr. E. W. Inder (Auckland) said centralisation had been an absolute failure. Mr. D. Smith (Gore) said Southland was satisfied with centralisation, and would vote against any proposals to the contrary. Provincial associations could not give an effective and united voice on such important questions as land, repatriation, pensions, etc. Instead of provincial executives appointing organisers,, the latter could bo appointed by New Zealand headquarters and allocated to, various districts. Mr. V. Potter (Auckland) said unnecessary expenditure was created by one central headquarters in Wellington. The cort-trovery between Auckland and headquarters would never have arisen had there been provincial executives in existence. Mr. ,T. D. Harper (Wellington) said a large number of important questions had been satisfactorily settle! by the present i-xecutive. He favored decentralisation if they could get efficiency with it, but if there were difficulties about the present scheme let them wipe away those difficulties and support, the present system. The president (Dr. K. Boxer) said there had been no failure under the present system. Proof of that, was that the association's demands for retrospective allowances had been granted. A good deal of the trouble that had arisen ovar

, district organisation had been due to faulty organisation legislation passed at the Christchurch Conference. After further discussion, the conference adjourned till Sunday, when, after some objection, the question was taken in committee i at which stage the conference was left sitting. . UNNATURALIZED GERMANS. On the question of unnaturalized Germans, Mr. A. B. Sievwright (Wellington) moved that legislation against unnaturalised Germans be passed by Parliament. The present legislation was too loose No unnaturalised Germans should .hold land in the country of their adoption. It was known that when Germans settled abroad they did so solely in the interests of the "Fatherland." He suggested a further motion, which was curried with the addition of the words "and late enemy aliens." Mr. Sievwright then moved: "That the Customs tariff be so altered as to practically exclude alien enemy goods.". New Zealand, lie said, should not tolerate the dumping of German goods in the Dominion. This was carried, with the addition of the words: "Whether directly or indirectly from late enemy countries." Y.M.C.A. AND MEDALS. Some discussion took place on a Timaru : remit protesting against the issue ,of war medals to Y.M.C.A. workers. Mr. T. P. C. Walsh (Timaru) said his association did not object to the workers who had been in forward areas receiving medals, but objected to. the issue of medals to workers who had not been right at the front. The latter category should receive a civil, and not a military decoration. Mr. N A. Ching (ICawakawa) said that if .Y.M.C.A, workers were put on the same level as the fellows who had been in the trtnshes the thing would b«

nothing less than scandalous. (Hear, hear.) Mr. W. E. Leadley (Christchurcli) thought the remit was only "another slap" at the Y.M.C.A, Mr. Sievwriglit said some Y.M.C.A. wi.rk'ers had done more in the war than a number of the N.Z.E.F,

i, ! r '.. (Cliriajelmrcli) said that if a Y.M.C.A. worker was entitled to a medal so was a Salvation Army worker. (Hear, lioar.) Colonel G. Mitchell (Baldutlia) said . ™'if«ronoe was not adding to iU uigmty by discussing the subject further. Mr. Walsh then withdrew the remit.