FINANCIAL BOARD METHODS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 253, 24 October 1919, Page 6

FINANCIAL BOARD METHODS.

WAR FUNDS EXPENDITURE. A ROYAL COMMISSION ASKED FOR. (By Telegraph.-Tress Association.) ' WELLINGTON, this day. At to-day's sitting of the Returned soldiers Association conference the sub-eomimttee set up to investigate the working of the Soldiers' Financial Board presented a report expressing dissatisfaction with that body's methods. The committee strongly recommended that the Government be pressed to vest I_e whole administration of the Act in Repatriation Boards on the following grounds:-(a) That the Regulations will be more sympathetically construed! by reason of local knowledge of the I applicant;, (b) that decentralisation will further assist an applicant, inasmuch as the Board could personally come into contact with him and arrive at a conclusion without the delay now experienced; (c) that a representative of the H.S.A. m each district be allowed to appear before the Board to assist applicants to place any evidence before the Board. The following motion, passed in committee, was reported to the ' Advisory Council in open session:—"That the Executive and Advisory Council, of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association urges upon tbe Government that a Royal Commission to inquire into the administration nnd disposition of the war funds of the Dominion, which the Association has previously pressed for, be set up without delay, and that the order of reference of that Commission be as previously laid down." Mr. Bell (Wairoa) moved:—"That this Advisory Council of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association places on record its approval of the action of the executive in regard to the war fun_ taken in accordance with the terms of a resolution passed by the Christehurch conference, and in accordance with the executive's request, lays it down that no further action be taken except as provided for in the motion pressing for a Royal Commission." Tlie motion was carried without discussion.