RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20250, 30 May 1931, Page 17

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

REMITS FOR CONFERENCE. I (The following remits are being sent forward by the Christchurch Branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association, for consideration by the Dominion Conference: — . That the Canteen Funds Board be thanked for. previous grants, and that it be requested to make a grant of ten thousand (£10,000) pounds from its funds to the New Zealand Returned Soldiers Association. (1) For the purpose of providing work for unemployed returned soldiers. (2) For the purpose of granting relief to re-, turned soldiers, vor dependents of returned soldiers. That the Government be requested to increase the membership of ?ne. Canteen Funds Board by the addition of two (2) financial members of the R.S.A. one member from the Canterbury district, and one member from the Otago district. * That the Government be urged to give immediate consideration to the recommendations of the Rehabilitation Commission, as submitted to Cabinet, as in our opinion the report proposes nothing extravagant, and if given legislative sanction will do much .to assist ex-soldiers who are feeling . the effects of their war service with the passing of years. ; That this general meeting of members of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association confirms the opinion that the Pensions Department s action in penalising returned soldiers i whose - medical files reveal venereal ! disease is harsh and' unjust, holding the "view these men were by, j reasons of" war thrown into tho cesspits of the wtorld; , ~ ! That this annual Dominion ..Council meeting of the N.Z.R.S.A. strongly protests against' the proposed change m the personnel of the War Pensions Appfeal. Board on the grounds economy. It considers the proposed change to be one of false economy, as if is well* known that the 'Magistrates ui all centres are already fully occupied, and if taken from their duties help

woald bare to be provided, and -• so the 'State would* receive no relief. It is farther pointed oat that Sir Walter Stringer has given complete ■ satisfaction, not only to the Returned {Soldiers' Association, but also to the general publio. That this Dominion Cotuioil of the N.Z.R.S.A. again urges the ment to amend the _War Pensions > Aot to provide for pensions for widows of ex-soldiers, whose deaths are attributable to war service, irrespective of pre-enlistment engagement to marry or date of marriage. That the conference is of the opinion that the wives of men in rbceipt of .full pensions for dual disabilities such as loss of two legs or a leg and'an dye,' and who are otherwise organically, sound, who :marry at any time* after their discharge should be eligibly to receive pensions. In view of the large number of Imperial ex-service men now resident: in the Dominion, . who are breaking ' down in health, this conference recommends that the National War-Funds Council and the N.Z.R.S.A. make strong representations through the -Empire'Soldiers'; League for a further grant from,the United Kingdom for the relief'"of ex-Imperial sol-, diers and their dependents resident inthe Dominion. In view of the success* of the manufacture of poppies in New Zealand by disabled soldiers, it be an instruction to the Dominion Executive .that no further supplies of poppies be ordered from England. That this Association is opposed to the action of the Unemployment Board in debarring returned: soldiers who are in receipt of. pensions - (not" being full pensions) in-excess of the amount they may earn under the No. 5 Scheme froih participating in this relief work, in viow of the fact that they are not exempt from.pavment of"the levy. That this" conference views with apprehension the large .number of dismissals of returned soldiers from Government Departments, and requests that the Government adhere to" its accepted rule that all things being, equal, preference will be given to returned soldiers. - That two delegates be appointed ;to the Biennial Conference of Wie British Empire Service League to be held w Toronto, the-amount available to be divided, between them. «-. . . ' That a' correspondent be appointed tomnfr oooWl. MormtfiomwtM*