RETURNED SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 77, 1 April 1922, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS

METHODS OF ELECTION

POSTAL BALLOT RETAINED.

An extraordinary general meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association was held at the Clubhouse last evening. The president (Mr. W.. Perry) occupied the .chair. The president announced that the financial position was much better than it was a few months ago. They had the present building not only free of rent, but also returning a profit of about £80 a year. ■ The annual cost was about £412; and the rentals brought in about £500. Great credit for this result was due to Mr. Arthur Fair. The membership was not as large as it ought to be. A few had been so seriI ously affected by retrenchment as to be unable to keep up their annual subscript tion. There was provision on the rules i to meet such cases, and the club would not allow such members to resign, but would remit their subscriptions until such time 'as they could pay (Hear, hear, and applause.) >■ The secretary (Mr, R. J. F. Aldrich) detailed some of the things the association had done for the returned soldier in tho last few In the case of the magisterial decision affecting soldier tenants, the question would be tested on appeal to the Supreme Court. In regard to T.B. men the association had secured that they should be accepted as risks up to £500, and the loading should bo borne equally by the Government and the man .insured. Efforts were also being made to securo a fairer arrangement in regard to soldier settlers on dairy farms, whose milk cheques were at .present being secured by the Government in the payment of interest on mortgage. Tho Government should bear with other creditors the result of the slump. Mr. Aldrich reminded members that repatriation benefits would shortly cease, and no applications will be received after 30th Juno next, and applications should therefore be in early. Further, there was tho question of income tax on' pensions, a grave injustice to which, headquarters was giving attention. The meeting then turned to the special business for which it was called—the discussion of the question of the postal | ballot for the election of officers. Mr. Pascoe moved that Rule 18 be amended, so as to change the election of officers from the system of postal ballot to election at the annual meeting. Mr. Pascoe submitted that members ought to have sufficient interest in the association to attend at least the annual meeting. Mr. A. B. Sievwright asked if there would be any provision under the pro posed amendment to allow members in the country to vote. ■ Tho answer was in the negative. The motion was lost on the voices.