R.S.A. ORGANISATION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16528, 21 May 1919, Page 10

R.S.A. ORGANISATION.

NEED FOi: ALTEU A'ITOX

OX A DIRECT TUSTS

The sub-committee appointed by tho Executive of the Returned Soldiers' Association "t-o go into til.- matter ot the Association's organisation lias presented its report which is included in tho remits set, down on tho order paper for consideration at the annual conference opening in on tho I'Gth iust.

The committee states that- tho main reasons making desirable a different system of organisation ivnre as follows : —

1. The system of election did not ensure that tho executive would hp representative of the Dominion areas.

L'. There Vas. not sufficient organised secretarial effort expendod in the smaller associations.

NEW SCHEME PROPOSED

It is therefore suggested: fa) That tho number of Headquarters Executive bo increased i'roin nine members to 11 fapart from ofTice-hearors). (b) That for tho ensuing year four organising secretaries be appointed, one for each military district.

1. In o'rder to meet objection (1) above, it is suggested that the officehearers of the Association as follows, bo elected by conference directly as heretofore: President, four vice-presidents (one from, each military district), treasurer (resident in Wellington). It is suggested that the members of the executive, 14 in number, be elected

•s follows: From Auckland district three, from Wellington district five, from Canterbury district three, from Otago district three. Tt is suggested that these members b;> nominated to conference after consult ntion by the representatives of each military district and bo then elected by the conference. ' FOUR ORGANISING SECRET All IES.

In order to meet objection (2) above, it is suggested: (a) That conference shall empower the executive to appoint and pay four organising secretaries, one for each district, whoso whole time shall bo given to district organisation. (b) That in order to act (in effect) ius a provincial executive tho members of executive and the vice-president representing any one district bo constituted by executive as their commissioners in* that district. With tho vice-president as chairman they shall—

]._ Control the activities oT the organising secretary appointed to that district.

2. Report to headquarters as to tho work done by the organising secretary. _ 3. Act generally as a provincial executive in effect if not in name.

A_ larger scheme was discussed involving four separate provincial executives complete in all administrative details. but tho difficulties surrounding the appointment of the members of these, together with the preat expense involved, were so many that the subcommitted felt it wa.s undesirable, and also that this beinc;,'the most critical time of the Association's history, it was not wise, to risk 'an exchange of horses in the middle' of tho stream. It wasunanimously felt that the Association must be prepared to xuake a special effort and spend money to obtain its objects during tho present year. "Without Having considered tho financial question exhaustively, the. committee is of opinion that the Association must face an expendittnte of about £750 for each distrjet.

It is pointed out that tho representation upon the executive so far as "Wellington Military is concerned enables the Wellington representatives on . tie executive to constitute the executive' sub-committee. Further, this scheme as submitted, -will cause the least possible alteration to the present constitution of headquarters, ■which in itself is a strong recommendation. THE SOLITARY DISTRICTS. • For the purpose of this scheme (states the sub-committee) it is advisable that the present delimitation of military dis-' tricts apply, with the exception • that Nelson and Marlborough (in the Canterbury . district) be _ considered as in the Wellington district for administrative purposes. Though for practical purposes the four organising secretaries would be controlled by the Local District Com-, missioners, •it is considered advisable that they should be_ under the final control of the executive, since' situations might arise in which headquarters considered advisable" to send extra help to a district for some emergencies. Tho organising 'secretaries should attend each executive meeting- not as members but as officials of the Association, and so be able to lay provincial matters directly before executive. In the opinion of this subrcoin mittee, the extra expense incurred will be more 'than counter-balanced. by increased membership, ■ and. more prompt returns from local associations.