RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 16848, 25 September 1918, Page 8

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

The committee of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association met last evening, Hr Harrison presiding. Twelve returned soldiers were admitted to membership in the association. F. A. Waddell's application tor a transfer to the Napier Association was approved. Mr F. Noma (organiser for the National Service League) wrote asking support for the movement for the establishment of four memorial workshops as a national tribute to the memory of our fallen soldiers. It was decided to support the movement, and forward the suggested resolution to the chairman of the Efficiency Boasd.

Mr C. L. Calvert was elected to fill the vacancy on the committee. The Secretary of the Otago Employers' Association wrote, assuring the committer of his executive's fullest co-operation la dealing with the practice of employers in exploiting returned soldiers in regard to j their pensions and wages.—Received. The Secretary of the Dunedin Jockey Club wrote, stating that his committee could not see their way to reconsider their decision to cancel free passes to returned soldiers.—Held over for general meeting. The Commissioner of Pensions wrote regarding the position of returned soldiers | whose pensions had ceased through their improved conditions, and who subsequently found themselves in need of assistance I through a I was necessary for the soldier to do to have j his eligibility determined was to make ap- ; plication to the local Registrar of Pensions, I who would supply a fresh form of application, which, when completed, would be forwarded to the Commissioner for the decision of the War Pensions Board. The board would, of course, require to be satisfied that the disability suffered was directly associated with his war service, but there was no limit of time in which a second application of this sort should be lodged. With regard to the complaints of war pensioners not being allowed to have their pensions paid into their post office accounts, he stated that owing to the system adopted for the payment of all classes of pensions it was not possible to have instalments paid direct to a banking account; but, assuming that all the necessary requirements were complied with, there would be no objection to any soldier Having an agent to collect his pension for the sole reason of banking it. Mr P. Hercus (acting secretary of the Chamber of Commerce) wrote in regard to the unemployment of returned soldiers. The chamber's delegates would bring tin question forward at the annual conference I of_ the associated chambers of the Dominion. In the meantime, he suggested that. ;i. list of the names of returned men available for work be forwarded to him monthly, and members of the chamber would then be advised.—Lists to be supplied. "'

Several complaints regarding pensions wore dealt with, and in some cases it was decided to ask the Pensions Board to re consider them.

Several letters were received from Sir James Allen in reply to representations that had been made by the' association. The first of these was with regard to the leave and allowances granted to men returned on duty furlough, which, the committee had represented to bo inadequate. The Minister stated that it had now been arranged to return to New Zealand, as

shipping facilities offer, men who have ; had more than three years' service over- ; seas. The election of'men for duty fur- | lough would be entirely at the- discretion , of the General Officer Commanding at the front. This leave was intended as a re- ! ward for long sendee and good conduct. : Each man, on his arrival in the Dominion, i would be given four weeks' leave on ;xty, ; together with a railway pass for three j weeks, thus conforming 'with the existing ] privileges granted to all men who are rc- | turned for discharge because of sickness ;or wounds. It would therefore be seen I that under the new- system which had been adopted each soldier selected for dutv I furlough would receive in actual practice j an average of six months' leave on full ; pay from the front, and this would ensure j our long-service men receiving an adequate rest from the stress and strain of active. ! service. In addition, any returned soldier j who required further leave for anv purpose- would have an opportunity to "submit J his case for the consideration of the Milii tary Service Board of the district, and •■uiv | recommendation which the board mightmake for extension of leave owing to I special circumstances would, of course, be respected by the Defence authorities.— | With regard to the committee's resolution j urging that effect be given to the re.comI mondation of the Defence Commission that all fit males employed by the department j should be sent abroad, tho Minister stated I that this was already in practice. Combing out, as far as the Defence Department was concerned, was constantly going on, and the fit men remaining were very few in number. In order to ensure that uono but those absolutely essential were retained in the Dominion, periodical medical examinations were ordered some time ago. Returned soldiers who had been discharged on medical grounds were, of course, not compulsorily liable for servieo. Any other men employed by the department and fit for service were drawn in the ballot under tho Military Service Act, and their sending forward is automatic.—Another communication from the Minister stated that the suggestion that authority be granted for soldiers discharged prior to June 1, 1918, to surrender to the Defence Department, at an assessed value, greatcoats and uniforms which were in their possession and were in good condition, could not be given effect to. The suggestion presented many of the difficulties which prevented the mufti allowance being made retrospective, and these difficulties were fully discussed at a conferenco between the representatives of the N.Z.R.S.A. and the department, at which conferenco it was agreed that the starting date for the increased allowances would be June 1, 1918. With regard to the supposed scarcity of khaki, he stated that there was sufficient Ichaki cloth available for the requirements of the department.—ln reply to the committee's resolution asking that, if it was considered necessary to close the hotel bars in ports on the occasion of the arrival thereat of troopships, they should | be closed aLso to the general public, Sir | Jamee stated that regulations which would j give effect to the motion had now been iramed, and were recently published in the ' Gazette.'—The communications were all received.