R.S.A.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18073, 15 May 1924, Page 7

R.S.A.

DISTRICT CONFERENCE.

The nifnual conference of the Canterbury District Boturnod Soldiers' Association was held yesterday. Present: Mr B. B. Bell (Timaru), chairman, Colonel H. Stewart, Messrs E. Orchard and E. W. Fulton (Christchurch), A. H. McKane (Greymouth), D. O'Connor (Temuka), F. A. Hickman (Ashburton), G. W. Lloyd (Waimate), W. H. Stark (Kaiapoi), and the secretary, Mr W. E. Leadlcy.

Chairman's Address. The chairman welcomed the delegates, and stated that the agenda paper was the smallest in the history of the district. The small number of remits did not mean that the work was lighter than it had been in tlie past, but rather called attention to the fact that (he main principles had been dealt with previously and most of them agreed upon. Their work now consisted mostly of dealing with individual cases. "The most important question that had to be considered was the proposed reorganisation of the Association. . For the past five years the work of the Association had been conducted on a district basis, the districts consisting of Auckland, Wellington, Nelson-Marlborough, Canterbury, and Otago. Local branches appointed delegates to the District Councils, and the District Councils appointed delegates.to the Dominion Conference. "He had always opposed the district scheme personally, but the Canterbury district as a whole had supported it in the past. The scheme had certain merits, but the cost of maintaining the organisation did . not appear, with the declining membership, to bo warranted. He had noticed that the Wellington and Otago districts had decided against the district scheme. It was certain that it would be abolished .«' the Canterbury branch also opposed it. Prior to the district scheme being inaugurated,' 'the annual conference consisted of about sixty delegates and was a most unwieldy body. The district scheme had reduced the size of the conference and as such, had had good results. He would not like to see the Dominion conference become-so large again. .Certain remedies had been suggested by the Dominion executive,, and local branches were asked to consider these suggestions. He thought he could say that the Canterbury district had helped the interests of returned soldiers throughout the Dominion as well as.looked after the affairs in its own district. As a member of the Dominion executive representing Wellington for three years and later Canterbury for the past two years, it was his opinion that the Canterbury district had done', more, constructive work and done more to shape the policy of the Association than any other district in tho Dominion.

Pensions. Colonel Stewart moved, on behalf of, the ChTistchurch branch, the following remit:—"That-the practice of the Pensions Department in sending a policeman . to make enquiries, in connexion with economic pensions, be and that an officer of the Pensions Department bo appointed to do this work." / ' The remit was carried. Eemits • dealing witfh economic pensions brought about much discussion, and after. two motions had been,; carried they were rescinded. ■.■..■;., Mr Leadley stated that_the, practice of' granting- economic-, pensions> was ,£oj; working out satisfactorily, fault was with the Department, not the Government, which had brought down some splendid legislation. "We belieVe that the only way is "to do away with the economic pension and to raise the ordinary pension," he concluded. Mr Orchard explained that the resolution was of importance fo the Hei Hei settlers, many of' whom had not made a success of their poultry.farming this year owing to the high price of feed and the low price of eggs. 'On the motion of the chairman, the following was carried: "That in view of -the present unsatisfactory working of yie War Pensions Amendment Act, 1923, in so far as the granting of e'conomic pensions is concerned, this annual conference of the Canterbury Distriet Eeturncd Soldiers' Association'requests the Dominion Council of the N.Z.R.S.A.: (a) to continue to urge the Government to appoint small local committees (consisting, say, of a representative of the Pensions Department, a representative of the Patriotic Society, and a representative of the Eeturned Soldiers' Association) to receive and report upon all applications for economic pensions, and to find -suitable employment for the "applicants for such ponsionj and (b) to urge the Government to grant the economic pension independently of the amount of the ordinary pension. This district conference requests' the Dominion Coun : cil to direct its incoming executive committce that if the Government declines to adopt these courses of action, the whole question of the abolition of; tfte economic pension, and the coincident raising'of the drflinary pensioji to £3 10s a week, shall be reviewed.'' Mr Orchard moved: "That the B.S.A. urge the Government to give a T.B. soldier a permanent pension for his permanent disability, until such time as a cure is found for T.B.' He stated that there was no doubt that T.B. was a permanent disability. Colonel Stewart seconded the motion, saying that the Christchurch branch had no recommendation to make about it. ■'••■.. An amendment: "That the Dominion Conference be asked to review the legislation affecting pensions granted to T.B. soldiers," moved by Mr Stark, was carried. Mr Orchard moved: "That the patients, on discharge from the Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer Springs, and similar institutions, be granted a full pension until such time as a medical report ha s been considered by the Pensions Department, but in all cases the patient to receive at least two months full pension after % discharge from Hanmer." Mr Lloyd seconded the resolution, saying that the men should be given a chance of haying a look round for a while when they left the hospital. The remit was carried. 1 The following resolution was carried: "That this annual general meeting of the Ghristchurch B.S.A. expresses its profound dissatisfaction with the action of the War Pensions Board in overriding, in certain particular cases, the decision of the War Pensions Appeal Board, thus involving the appellants in additional and unnecessary hardship. It urges that Headquarters of the N.Z.R.S.A. should make the necessary representations to the Government, to ensure that the decisions of the War Pensions Appeal Board shall be given immediate effect to in every case." . / , - Housing and Land; The following remits regarding housing and land questions were "That-in view of the long delays in dealing with applications for loans for building purposes under- the State Advances Act, this conference strongly urges the Government to again put uito operation Section 2 of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, making pro-

vision for loans to discharged soldiers for building purposes." "That the N.Z.R.B.A. should press for representation on the Land Boards." Speaking to the second remit, Mr Orchard said that as there were so many returned soldier farmers, in the district, he thought they should have >'. direct representation on the Board. |

Unemployment. Remits dealing with , unemployment were passed as follows :• —' "That the attention of the Government be again drawn to the fact that there are still a large number of disabled soldiers capable- of filling positions as clerks, liftmen, .caretakers; mesengers, crossing-keepers, etc., who are unemployed, and that a special endeavour be made by the Public Service Commissioner to place these men in suitable employment in the Government Service." "That the Government be requested to give more attention to the aftercare of T.B. and neurasthenic soldiers, and that more suitable avenues of light employment be opened upfefor, these men."

Poppy Day. An Ashburton remit, "That this branch is of the opinion that poppies should be manufactured in New Zealand, and that the total proceeds of Poppy Day should be retained in New Zealand," was moved by Mr Hickman, who said that in view of the trouble in Auckland and Wellington he thought that the money made should remain in New Zealand instead of being sent to France. Mr Leadlcy explained that the R.S.A; had entered into 'a contract for a supply of poppies -from FrlWce until 1925. After that date he thought that, a serious effort would be made" to make the flowers in New Zealand. The chairman said he" thought that the people in the devastated areas in France should be remembered in a small way as long as possible, The motion was lost,' three delegates voting for it. \

Immigration. , Resolutions regarding immigration were passed as follows: — (1) "That this conference is of the opinion that immigration of ex-service men from-Great Britain will be of considerable benefit to the Government." (2) "That in order to encourage such immigration the Government, be urged to (a) acquire farming land which is not at present being utilised to its full productive capacity? (b) throw open more Crown land for settlement ; (c) negotiate with the Imperial Government with a view to J obtaining financial assistance for suitable settlers from Great Britain on the land; (d) grant free passages'to the Dominion to the children of ex-Imperial soldiers, desirous of obtaining on New Zealand farms; (e) appoint' Immigration Committees in each of the large* 1 centres to work in conjunction with the Immigration Department, Wellington, Such committees to welcome and ■vour to «find . employment for .immigrants who are not farmers." The chairman stated that the question of finding employment for returned soldiers must be- a serious one in England. General Bussell had brought back piles.of applications for immigration to the Dominion. . , Tho resolutions were carried after some discussion, and it was further decided that the Canterbury .delegates to the New Zealand Conference should be instructed to bring forward in dob.ate the Whole difficulty of the housing of immigrants, and to move a further motion that v a- full enquiry'be held with the object of promoting co-operation Government and the R.S.A. in finding a .Te'medy.S'

# /General. Mr E. Orchard was nominated for the position of returned soldiers' represent !ative on the Dominion Executive of he New Zealand Farmers' Union. Last year's officers were re-elected as follows:'—President, MriJ v 'B. Bell (Timaru); vice-president, Colonel H. Stewart; hon.'treasurer, Mr E. W. Fulton; committee, Messrs E. .Orchard, H. J. Knightly, G. W." Lloyd, arid F. A. Hickman. Messrs Bell and Leadley were elected the Canterbury-delegates to the New Zealand Association.