R.S.A. CONFERENCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 65, 17 March 1945, Page 6

R.S.A. CONFERENCE

AUCKLAND DISTRICT MUFTI ALLOWANCE QUESTION . A of. delegates from branches .of the-R.S.A. in the Auckland district was opened this fnorning in the R.S.A. Building, Auckland, when representatives from, as far north as Kawakawa were present. Mr.' A. ■ P. Postlewaite, district vicepresident, presided, and the conference was opened by- the' Mayor of Auckland, Mr. Allum. - Referring to the importance of the work thatlay ahead of the R.S.A. in regard, to the rehabilitation of men and women, from the war, Mr. Allum said ;he was a little worried. He admitted, as all, reasonable people would, that" the Government schemes in many cases were excellent, but there was a.rigidity, in State.operation that" hampered much of'its effective, ness. A responsibility lay with the individual citizen.to do everything possible. He was glad to, say that what he had seen satisfied'him that the people wanted returned. personnel to have the best that could be given.. ' " ... The Mayor referred to the difficulties confronting returned' irien on resuming . their employment. They had lost valuable years and should be given every consideration and every preference to re-establish themselves back into civilian life. . Mr. Allum paid a tribute to the very useful work being done by the Services' Contact Centre, established by the business community of Auckland, and said,he would like:to see every ek-servicenian in a business and in a home of- his own.-He did not advise returned men to rent State or other houses, but to get their own homes. In conclusion he extended the greetings of the city to the delegates and wished them a t successful conference. Mufti Allowance . ■ .'. Among the remits discussed was a proposal from Western Suburbs that the mufti allowance be increased to £50. ;.".V ~'•'. ,■ ■ ■.. Mr. R. G. Mason estimated that if such a proposal were carried out it would cost the country £5,000,000. The country was giving large sums for the rehabilitation of men for furniture, tools, farms ' and houses, and there was a possibility .that such a figure as he had quoted for mufti allowance might have repercussions in more important, directions ,of post-war conditions., . . •: ■ .; ' . After further debate, in -which it was evident that the delegates considered the figure too high, the remit with withdrawn. :