A SPLIT OR A WRIT.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 208, 2 September 1919, Page 5

A SPLIT OR A WRIT.

R.SA FINANCE.

AUCKLAND TAKES A STAND.

CONTROL QUESTION.

Whether the Auckland Branch of the •Returned Soldiers' Association will proceed to take legal action against headquartera at Wellington, or, alternatively, advise all local associatibne to cease paying- capitation funds, will probably be decided at to-night's meeting of the Auckland Executive. This matter of finance has been the cause of a widening breach between the two bodies, helped by a difference of opinion as to the propriety of the local association taking political action.

Under a scheme adapted, at the ktsfc •Dominion conference of the associations, it was stipulated that local associations should pay a capitation fee of 2/ to headquarters, and If to provincial committees. Subsequently it was pointed out that the dual capitation fund wonH involve two returns from each association, and that the simpler method would be to remit the 4/ to head-quarters, so that the funds could be delivered to pro* vincial organisations to which they were attached. This modification was agreed to. Immediately afterwards the Auckland association employed an organiser, who fiet to work -in -mapping out the district, and considerable expense was entailed. Some £600 was due from headquarters at this time, but wnen the Auckland association applied for the amount, no reply was received until coneonsideralbly later, when the Dominion Executive had met and -decided that it should ihse'lf have conttrol oven the funds. The executive intimated that a certain amount was being placed in an Auckland bank to be drawn on by the Auckland provincial district, three members of the latter body being nominated to negotiate the account. It was found, however, that the account could only be drawn upon under a number of conditions and restrictions, to which the Auckland body took strong exception. Auckland had already incurred expenses totalling about £100 in carrying out its organisation scheme, and a member of the association had had to find this money privately because funds were not available. !

Auckland's protest against this concondition of affairs and its request for a readjustment of the matter was countered by headquarters, who stopped payment of moneys in the local bank to the "credit of the Auckland association. They did this, it was stated, -until such time as they were assured that the Auckland executive intended to spend the money in the -manner Auckland then demanded the right tm use the money as it thought fit, and although the local Returned Soldiers* Association will not make any official announcement it is reported that a deadlock has now arisen. There is reason to believe that Auckland has intimated that if Wellington still refuses to let up on the account, it will request local associations to stop payment to headquarters or, alternatively, to take legal action for the recovery of _ the moneys already paid. Wellington was given two days' notice of this intention, and this notice expired on Friday last. Further action depends on th { c result of to-night's meeting.