R.S.A.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16851, 3 June 1920, Page 7

R.S.A.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

(rRES3 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, June 1. Tho Rcturnod Soldiers' Conference decided to urge the Government to put in operation forthwith the clauses of Acts in force relating to tho compulsory acquisition of land, and that, where practicable, the payment of land so. acquired should be made by Government securities (bands, etc.); "that moro stringent- steps be taken to enforce tho provisions of Acts relating to the imposition of the graduated land tax, with a view to forcing large land owners to place more land in the markets.

_ The conference passed a resolution viewing with consternation the sudden withdrawal by the Government of loans to returned soldiers under the DisfW+'omerit Act, and urging (a) that immediate provision be t,v- rurlianient to deal with nil applications for loans which were lodged with Land Boards before April l 2oth, 1920: and (b) that in view of tho large number of applications declined hv Land Boards since tho Government's withdrawal of loans. Parliament should authorise the continuance of these loans at tho earliest possible mo-

io! ment during the coming session. ?- It was decided also to call upon the l, Prime Minister to redeem the promise it made by him to tho last conferenco ■o that the Act will remain in operation until evcrv returned soldier is settled > on the lav.d. Jt was resolved, further, to ask all v- local associations to place their case before their district members of Parsi liament; that tho Prime Minister li and the Minister of Lands bo invited 1n attend the conferenco, failing which the conference will wait on them with the object- of obtaining satisfaction. Tho conference passed tho following remits on the subject of land: —That the Government be urged in land ballots to give preference to men who prois eeeded overseas as against those who g did not. That discretionary powers be 0 given Land Boards to grant applicaj tions for sale, after tho expiry of five | yours. _ That the Government be urged e to remit stamp duty on transfers to soils , diers who obtain loans under the Disy | charged Soldiers Settlement Act. That e i legislation be passed for intermediate a | classification of lands. That district 1 secretaries l:e supplied by the Land Dea j partment with a list of all Government q leases falling due within tho- next three years. That the maximum advance for tho purpose of felling bush on soldiers' sections be increased m all cases to J cover the actual cost of felling. That the Returned Soldiers' Association bo represented on all Land Boards, and that Boards be empowered to appoint t local committees to deal with returned soldiers' applications for land. That Boards have power to mako final deci- , cions, without reference to tho Minist ter, in order to expedite business. That t .attention be called to the ineffectiveness of Land Purchase Boards, and that a clear statement bo asked of the Minis--1 ter regarding their duties and powers. The report of the committco set up to go into the question of organisation was submitted in the afternoon. This provided for the inauguration of a district scheme, the objects of district organisation I icing to promote the welfare of returned soldiers within the limits prescribed by certain clauses of tho constitution. . Each district, however, should be subject to the control of the- Dominion Council of tho New; Zealand Returned Soldiers 1 Association.' ' ! It was recommended that the District Committees should forthwith call a conference of delegates from local asso- : 1 ciations to iietermino their own form of district organisation, the annual conferences voting power, executive, and tho like. Each district conference should forthwith establish groups of i local associations within its district, I provided always that the total member-! ship of tho local associations comprising any such, group should not be less than 4.00 financial members at tho time tho group iwas established. In no district should there be any moro than ten ' groups, and at no time should therei' be moro than six districts in the Do- ; minion. As to_ tho number of delegates I ' to the Dominion Council, it was sug- i ' gestcd that eaoh group having up to ' and including 1000 financial members as • j at March 31st preceding the annual ! conference, should have one delegate, ' from 1001 to 2500 inclusive, two dele- ' gates, groups having over 2500 mem- !! bers three delegates. Each district i should be entitled to one vote for every j 400 financial members or part thereof ■ comprised in tho total financial mem- J borship of such district. Every dele-1 gate should havo one vote, and the; ; balance of tho votes to which any dis- j tricfc was entitled should be distributed j ! among the delegates as tho annual j meeting of the district conference j should decidc. Any local association might, if it thought fit, send a delegate to any meeting of the Dominion Council, who. should have tho right to speak but not to vote. The report was adopted after having ' been amended in the direction of pro--1 viding for the estaoJishment oi' five disi as follows: Auckland, Wellington, .Nelson and Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago. _ It was also decided that local associations should pay organisation capitation direct to the district executives, and headquarters' capitation direct to headquarters. The report as amended was ordered to be incorporated in the constitution. Tho delegates to conference were entertained at a smoke concert tc-nisht by the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association.