R.S.A. CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1921, Page 8

R.S.A. CONFERENCE.

THE WELLINGTON DISTRICT. TARANAKI AFFAIRS. REMITS TO DOMINION BODY. Palmerston N., May 2. The annual conference of the Wellington district of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, which had devoted yesterday afternoon to committee work, resumed in open meeting at 7.30 o’clock last evening, when the reports submitted by the Organisation, Finance, and General Committees were considered. The district president (Mr. B. J. Jacobs) occupied, the chair. Messrs. D. J. B. Seymour (Wellington) and R. B. Bell (Wairoa) brought down ! the report of the Organisation Committee. The first part of this recommended the district body to reduce its working expenses by curtailing the size of its executive committee, which in turn necessitated a reduction in the number of groups (or areas) into which, the district was divided. These, it was suggested, should be limited to five, as follow: —(1) The Palmerston North, Levin, Feilding, Marton, Taihape, and Taumarunui associations; (2) Wellington City; (3 New Plymouth, North Taranaki, Stratford, South Taranaki, Waverley, Wanganui; (4) Wairoa, Napier, Hastings, Waipawa, Waipukurau; (5) Dannevirke, Woodville, and Wairarapa. The second part recommended the district conference to send forward Yo the New Zealand conference a proposal for the alteration of the Dominion Association’s constitution in various directions, the underlying principle of which was a reduction of the size of the Dominion conference, and of the Dominion executive, and consequently in their expenditure. No alteration in the present voting power was suggested, but it was urged that the reduced number of Dominion vice-presidents should be elected in future, as are the president and treasurer now, by the whole council. The numerous relative and consequential amendments involved were detailed.

The report was adopted in toto, without discussion. z FINANCE. Mr. H. B. Burdekin (district vicepresident) moved the. adoption of the Finance Comyiittee’s report, which was of a comparatively technical nature. In speaking to it, he stated that it was impossible to give any idea as to the amount of the next capitation fee until the district scheme was finally dealt with by the Dominion conference. He estimated that the drop in the Wellington district’s, financial membership would be from 10,600 to 0000. He emphasised the committee’s suggestion that local associations should not remit any capitation until after the Dominion conference had met. This delay was recommended so as the associations could remit upon a correct basis. It was not known whether the basis would be altered. Mr. R. J. F. Aldrich (Wellington) agreed with the motion, but urged that the monthly returns should go forward as usual.

Mr. R. B. Bell (Wairoa) pointed oul that under the present constitution Mr Burdekin’s proposition could not b< given effect to.

Mr. Burdekin’s motion, which was amended to include Mr, Aldrich’s suggestion, was carried, and the report was adopted. The report of the Genera] Committee, which Mr. W. Perry (Wellington) had convened, made recommendations concerning all the remits from local associations which did not come under the heading of finance or organisation. Those ordered to be sent forward to the Dominion conference were passed in the •following form: PENSIONS. South Taranaki Association's remit (entirely redrafted): “(a) That when pressing for a 75 per cent increase in the maximum pension the regrading of the Schedule of War Injuries (1915) must be equally insisted upon, the association believing that while the lower grades of injury are at present adequately compensated, the higher and multiple injuries are not; (b) that the principle governing the maximum pension shall be a sliding scale, determined by the Government Statistician’s indices as to the cost of living on a biennial basis; (c) that the present pension paid to the dependants of deceased soldiers shall be increased in the above ratio; (d) that the pension of wives and children and other dependants of present pensioners shall remain as at present.” OTHER REMITS.

Hawera. —"That the Government be asked to make provision for part repayment of all stock loans, by instalments during the period of advances, and that the amount of the instalments be left to the individual discretion of the land hoards when making the loans, these instalments to be made retrospective to past loans in every case if possible; and that, when notices are sent, to borrowers for interest and instalments due-on all loans under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement and Repatriation Acts, the amount of the present indebtedness of each borrower be stated on he notice.” Waverley.—“ That Cabinet be asked to indicate the manner in which it proposes .to carry out the promise made by the Right Hon, the Prime Minister at Hawera on or about April 12, to help men in 'financial difficulties, especially those upon steep country who at present are depending upon private firms in order to

exist.” ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of the district officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: President, Mr. B. J. Jacobs (re-elected) : vice-president, Mr. H. B. Burdekin (reelected) ; treasurer, Mr. H. N. Cooke (reelected); members of executive, Messrs. D. Lenihan (Group 1), R. J. F. Aldrich (2), C. Gower (3), A. A. Ford (4), and ,1. F. A. Hebenton (5); auditor, Mr. F. W. Connell.

A ballot for the election of the district’s ten delegates to the forthcoming New Zealand Conference in Dunedin resulted in the return of the following:— Major-General Sir Andrew Russel, Messrs. B. J. Jacobs, H. B. Burdekin, J. F. A. Hebenton, R, J. F. Aldrich, C. W. Batten, R. B. Bell, Noel S. Johnson, W. Perry, D. J. B. Seymour. The district’s -28 votes at the New Zealand Conference were distributed as follows:—Mr. Jacobs, 4 votes (with direction to allocate 2, on certain conditions); the remaining nine delegates, 2 votes each; Dr. E. Boxer (Dominion vice-president), 2; Mr. D. Stanley Smith (Dominion vfee-president), 2; Mr. J P. Harper (Dominion treasurer), 2.