R.S.A. DELEGATES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 10133, 10 June 1924, Page 2

R.S.A. DELEGATES.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

Tho annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association was continued yesterday, the Dominion vice-president, Mr D. S. Smith, in the chair. A report was presented by a committee on tlu> subject of organisation and constitution, and after a lengthy discussion amendments were made to the constitution. It was decided to re-affirm the 1923 resolution urging the establishment of halt-way houses for the use or both soldiers and civilians whose minds are temporarily deranged. The matter was brought up by an Auckland remit, ;which was as f ollows: —" That the Government bo strongly urged to establish half-way houses in both Islands so that persons who are only temporarily affected mentally may be admitted into such houses instead or, as at present, being sent direct to the asylum, where the environments do not induce but retard recovery.'' On the motion of Mr W. E. Leadlev, seconded by Mr M. A. Aldred, the following Auckland remit was adopted The committee had recommended that the remit be not proceeded with, as the difficulties mentioned in the remit had not eventuated:.—" That this conference records its emphatic protest against any form of centralisation, or proposal by the Government to centralise the work of manufacture, reIpair and supply of artificial limbs in Wellington, for the following reasons: (1) That a man must. send his limb to Wellington when it is in need . of a major repair, and get it back without a fitting, or else he has to proceed to Wellington and spend a considerable time there. (2) If ho requires a new limb lie must go to Wellington at some stage of tho proceedings to be measured for the limb and to be fitted; this means serious loss and inconvenience to the amputee,, and may entail loss of his employment; and, further, this conference desires to bring to the notice of the Pensions Department, Dominion Conference, and headquarters the fact that the Government, by its policy of establishing branch factories in the different centres, must have recognised some of the disadvanf tages of centralisation. Further, wo L desire to point out that any scheme 1 of centralisation is unnecessary, for tho I fact that the, Government could supply 3 standard set-ups to the various local 1 firms who have already demonstrated i their ability to give satisfactory fit- | tings to amputees, and also points out I that any slight saving that might be I effected "in the cost of manufacture will j| be more than counterbalanced by the 1 cost of travelling expenses and allowI ances paid whilst in Wellington." I The Auckland district forwarded the 1 following remit regarding artificial I limbs: —"That this conference views | with alarm the indifference displayed g by the Government in the treatment "' of arm' amputees, in that (1) no ■ clothing allowance has been granted, although wear and tear on clothing is considerable; (2) no concessions

have been granted in the matter of travelling by rail, despite the fact that the inconvenience suffered wan-ants some concession being made. Therefore this conference urges the Government to: (a) Grant to each amputee a clothing allowance of not less than £4 per annum in such cases where artificial appliances are worn. (b) Provide concessions on the railway on the basis of first-class tickets at sec-

olid-class rates. The committee's recommendation was as follows:—"That the local association be requested to obtain evidence of the wear and tear referred to and to forward the same to headquarters; headquarters to take the matter tip with the Medical Administration of Pensions, if evidence warrants action; 1 That the council affirms the decision of the executive in. this matter to honour the pledge to the General Manager of Railways." This was approved. It was decided to recommend that the wearers of mechanical apparatus on limbs should be allowed a sum to be fixed by the "War Pensions Board to cover wear and, tear.

Mr Leadley moved, and Mr G. W. Lloyd seconded, "That the conference emphatically opposes the suggestion in the annual report that the Pensions Board in New" Zealand should consist of the Commissioner of Pensions and the Director-General of Medical Supplies and that the present Pensions Board should be done away with. It is of the opinion, that such action would be most detrimental to the war pensions of this Dominion." The motion was carried.

It was decided not to alter the association's policy in regard to conserving the canteen funds until the sum of £200,000 had been reached.