SOLDIERS AND POLITICS

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 250, 21 October 1919, Page 8

SOLDIERS AND POLITICS

DISCUSSED BY CONFERENCE. THE CONSTITUTION AMENDED. β-e removal of prohibition SPHERE OF ACTION. BY QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES \. CBy Telegraph.— Spei-lal to -'Star.") WELLINGTON-, this day. rue_ much-debated subject of whether The \ew Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association should abandon its present non-political attitude, was again tnrashed out at the conference of the Association last night. Several remits Mere before the conference, nnd it was nee.JcJ tn debate the matter (in that from Christ,-hurch as follow*: "That this nieeting i» of opinion that the words Wpolitical- should be deleted from the Headquarters constitution." Mr. K. W. LendU-y (Christchureh) in moving the remit, said he was absolutely opposed to party politics, hut political action of „.,„„. kind ought to be taken to mand soldiers t0 seoure tlK " ir J"*t deMr .T. l'etherick (Cliristchureh) sec--onded the motion. He .-aid that soldiers had won the right to have a voice in the government of tie country. That was the only position in which they could secure for soldiers their rights. He did not ask headquarters to take action, but t-iinply to strike out the non-political clause in the consitution. Mr. R. B. Bell (Wairoa i moved to add • ■' the motion the words, '-Providing that the Association shall not. except by the submission of questions and the' publication of the answers thereto, mlluence or seek to influence the views of 3t? members regarding any candidate for public office or any political or municipal party." Hμ also suggested that the word ••party" should be inserted between the. w.'r.ls "non-politicar iv the original motion. -Mr. J. H. Luxford (Waikato) supgested that the amendment was out o: order, it was a direct negative. This contention was upheld by Mr. X. B. MoCallum (Christchurch), who had taken the chnir iv the temporary Bbaenie of Dr. Boxer. A further suggestion by Luxford that the motion wa.s out of order, in that it really did not amend the constitution, was not upheld. Ip AX .OrENDirENT MO\ r ED. "Mr. K. W. Inder (Auckland), moved an amendment to delete the word "non" before the word "political" in the ConBtitution. He said that the Association, by becoming political, could enforce its demands, and to his mind there was no body better fitted to educate people in regard to politics than the Returned Soldiers' Association. It had teen said that the men of ability and capacity equal to the present political leaders and members could not be secured among returned soldiers, but that contention did not. hold water. Wliy, at the conference with them wis a man of the calibre of the Mayor-of Hamilton. Mr. 0. 'W. Wiirdrop (Woodville) seconded the amendment, but snid political action by the Association would iiiean ruin. In his own district one ot the A.=*joeiation'a chairmen w;ie a prominent Reformer, while another Association's chairmen was a prominent Labour man. How was the Association to get on in cases like that? . -Mr. Inder: Abolish the parties. Hon. T. Anstey (Danncvirke) asked What party it was proposed to support. Mr. Inder: We would support our own party —a new National party or New Zealand party —whatever you like to call it. In the end we would become the ruling party. Continuing, Mr. T. Anstey said it (Would be impossible to pet the "unanimous support of members of the Association. His association was against political action. WHAT SJ3CrIIT,BE DOXK. Mr. V. Potter (Auckland) referred tn the manner in which school committees. lad combined to push their own ends. That was an example the Returned Soldiers' Association might well follow. It was not proposed to put up candidates in each electorate, but by concerted action Candidates could be made to .state plainly Whether they were in favour <jt the principles for which soldiers stood. He predicted that, unless soldiers were brought together by political action, the Association would be dead live years hence. The iKigy of a split in the Associa; ion following on political action Bhiuihi be cast aside, for surely members liad brains to evolve a policy that would find the support <M" soldiers throughout the country. At tiiis stage various points of order Svere raided by opposing parties. Dr. l!.i\er luiin had returned to the chair) then adjounnnl the conference for five minutes while he went into the points raised. I'pun resuming the president eaiil In- upheld the ruling of tin- temper- : •my elmirmiin, nil hough he himself did ni>i think tiie amendment «a- a direct negative. .As debate had proceeded he ' did not think it w.is fair to back on the ruling After nirtiiy further point- of order Jlr. 1). Smilii I Core) continued the debute. He opposed all political action. partiriilnrly a.s the Association had no \ definite platform before it. What, for J instance, v.oulil members of the Association s.iv .-should In- done in Parliament i i;i regard to tin- "so slow" policy in coal mine- , ; Could they agree on that? What would members .1" in regard to the Bible- , iii-sriio.jls (|Uestion, question of State aid for Ivomaii Catholic schools, and the nuitter of worker control ot industries in which they were enm-erned'; It was im-ji-s.-ihh- for the Association tn say it u-as \ political only <jh i-nrtain points, l'oliti- " cal action uuulil r.-nd umhul.t th<- As-o- f ciati.,ll just a.s effectively as live million bomliF. The A-s-iciat lun" shmilrl keep out s of ]>..iiti-- ~,,.| L ,,, haltlheaded at the present member* ni f'urliuruelit. A Voi.e: Ami you'll be buld-l.eaded h by the time you g,-t what yon want. -Mr. W. Perry (Wellington) .-aid the ~ Assciation, to n lnrgr extent- was ,■ already n political bo.lv. in that it frequently diseiisa.-d things political. Per- P soiially, however, he thought that iva-, far :,- it should »<>, for aiiythiu X else S would split tlie A.5,,,i,ai,,,,. ,;,.u a.-priv, ! '" y- »'■«■;•■'"..•» support of the pul, l lie. lie Impeil. however. tl, ilt individual l-.-turn.-tl soldiers would .stu.nl for l'arliu- " Bien-. (I AUCKLAND DELKCiATK'S VIEWS ' Mr. T. Long (An.kland) said the time t Inid guile when the Association .should r go i'a[i-iii-haiiil nnd nsk Ministers for r lights. Mc in-tamed the treatineni ac- t cordßd to (lie Annoeiii lion's land Hcttlement achejne by ti,:-. Government as an 1 argument for political actiun T -jWithout i

car v \ T ? he could not carry into effect its many decisions. nuhr • Harppr < W <?"ington) said public opimon the bpst f nstl .' lJm^ to use in securing soldiers' welfare It St P th a L ° r r C ° Uld f be I,ro "" ht d ™» to suit the entire conference he would support po itical action, but until that was achieved he would oppose the move. Tt uZlz h n U . Se,eSS *"? e,ec * candidatee unle b » they secured the balance of A OW r? , le , "r ked U P° n the Proposed Auckland platform us an ideal impossible of realisation. Without political e fr ciationhiid^^a thf/' *'• Andrews (Auckland) said Xil l re . tUrne , d f o!dier c- taking political action, had a chance to make N* w Zealand what it should be-»Ood's Own /'■"■• T ltLt the Ass °ciat.ion had Rained in the past, he said, had been secured through the Governn.ents tear of political action. Unless the returned men put in a Government oi their own. however, tliev would >c left in the lurch after the next election, tor members of Parliament woulJ have before them a three years' lease of 'iff. li political action were taken members would remain loyal. He challenged any of the opponents to the scheme to stand up and say they would desert the Association if it Went in for political action. Mr. J. McKeuzio HYairarapa) said that he would not be guided by the Association as to whom he should support at the election. HONOUR NOT POLITICS. Mr. D. Colquhoun (Dunclin) said his Association would not support political a.-tion FHs Association wanted the badge to remain a hadp> of honour and not a badsre of n political party. Mr. R. Rpid (Rlenheim) said the Association had no funds to enter politics. Mr. J. A. Cowles (Wairarapa) held tliKt v was impossible to bring Association members under one political flag. It was wrong to disassociate soldiers from the rest of the public. Mr. Pollock (Auckland) snid he was strongly in favour of political action Mr. x. Tercoe (Kelson) said many nien had joined the Association because it was a non-political body Mr. (1. Mitchell (Wellington) suggested that, as delegates had made up their minds, it was useless to debate the matter further. He moved that the motion be put. This proposal was lost on the voices. In answer to a question, the president said be thought that if the Association adopted a political platform Civil servants would he compelled to withdraw from membership. Mr. K. J. V. Aldrich (Wellington) opposed change in the direction of taking any other political action than it i was competent for the Association to take lit presentMr. N. A. McCullum (Christchurch) opposed the amendment. The Association could never with safety enter party politics. Mr. W. A. A. Ford (Hastings) opposed political action on the ground that it interested only a. small section of members of the Association. WAIKATO BACKS AUCKLAND. Mr. Luxford (Waikato) said the feeling of the executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association of to-day was that of the Auckland Association of three months ago. so that he felt hopeful that Auckland ultimately would get its way. The Association should be prepared to take direct political action, and should not rely upon the obsolete method of putting questions to candidates. He did not wish to stress the need for political action merely on account of soldiers. The advantages and experiences of soldiers should be used for the benefit of the whole country in Parliament. He denied that it was impossible for soldiers to agree upon a programme, and to prove his contention rend copious extracts from the platform proposed by the Auckland Association for the benefit of country associations, lie said they should enter politics. Captain R. P. Black (Dunedin) likened political action to the moon. If looked at with the naked eye it looked tine, but if it was looked into thoroughly it was seen to be a dead world. Mr. C. W. Batten (Wellington) said it was time that each man looked at politics from the point of view of his own benefit. It would be as impossible to unify the Returned Soldiers' Association iv regard to politics as to unify the fjrcLit middle class of the country. in reply. Mr. Leadley said that if the conference voted for* the motion it would not bind the Association to take political action. It left it free to do as it liked mi the subject, instead of being bouiil Ms at present to a non-political attitude. Till". AMEXWMENT CARRIED. A division wns taken, and the amendment was "ndorsed by 4ti to 27. Mr. A. H. Sievwright (Wellington) then moved the following further amendment: "T:ie Association shall be nonseetarian and non-political ac regards partite and the State, hilt in so far as all questions pertaining directly to soldiers' interests may be political, then so far and no farther shall the R.S.A. be polftif.il." This, he said, would not bind member* t< l support any particular party but would give the Association power to inquire into the views of candidates for the benelit of members. Mr. ITar-MM- I Wellington) seconded the nnieii imeiiL pro forma. Mr. Hell (Wairoa) gave notice of his intention to move the amendment ruled out of order by the temporary chairman. This »:i- accepted by the president. Mr. Sievwri.sfhtoß amendment was lost on the voices. Discussion on Mr. Pell's amendment Win interrupted by three notices of amendment by Mr. Inder (Auckland), all of whii'ii were ruled out of order. L'ltiinnt'-ly \!i\ Toll's amendment was carried l.v r>o votes to ;!G, and became the substantive motion. At a.m. Mr. T. Lomj (Auckland) moved us an amendment. "That all viorls after 'non-party political' in the I raft constitution, lie struck out." Mr. Imler (Auckland) was about to live imtii-e of a further amendment when Uγ. Leadley (('hri.-Uchurch) moved, and Ur. Andrews I.Am-klnmll seconded an iiljoiirnnient of the debute. Strong ex■epHon to the proposal to adjourn was oiced by Mr. Harper (Wellington) who aid th? iclea was simply to prolong the lebate unduly. Mr. Luxford (Waikato) said lie had iceii defeated, and was prepared to noept tlif" verdict of the conference. He greed that it was wrong to adopt Pyriamentary procedure for the purpose of ■ litting up a stonewall. Mr. Inder (Auckland) spoke in similar train. The proposal to adjourn was lost on he voices. Mr. Long explained tliat his amendneiit would allow each Association to r lecide fur itself wliat attitude it should ' ake on the question. In seconding the amendment. Mr. An- » Irewa (Auckland) said that if Auckland » •epresentativert were defeated they would I ibide by the decision loyally, but would T try to reverse the decision next year. I The amendment was lout on a K ho'w of k hands, and the original motion, as s amended by .carried. _ (

<- THE PRESENT POSITIOX. By omission of the words "non-polit J; cal" from the constitution as provide : for by the Christchurch amendment, tl ■ Association is free to take action in n J I gard to political affairs, but. tlie reaoli : lion as passed carries with it Mr. Bell J', addition debarring the Association f roi * j party politics, in that it shall not, e.vcej j I 'by submission of questions and public; j, J tions of answers thereto, seek to inftuenc the views of its members regarding an ! candidate for public otlice or any polil cal or municipal party."