RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 17085, 2 July 1919, Page 2

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. The fortnightly meeting of the executive of the JDuuedin Returned Soldiers’ Association was held last evening in the association’s rooms, Dowling street, those present being Messrs R-. P. 1 ones (in the chair), C. R. M'Lean, J. MacManus, .1. M'Crae, C. R. Murray, W. Woods, J. M'Nish, and J. H. Moir. One hundred and forty-two returned soldiers and one returned nurse were nominated for membership. The honorary treasurer (Mr 0. R. Murray) submitted a statement giving the estimated receipts and expenditure for the incoming year. On the assumption that the membership next year will bo 4,000, the receipts would bo £2,338 and the expenditure £1,832, leaving an estimated credit balance of about £SOO. The main items of expenditure would be : —Salaries, £524; travelling expenses, £SO; office rent, £52; headquarters subscriptions, £800: stationery, £100; stamps, £100; advertising, £SO; sundry expenses, £SO. It was decided to invest £3OO in the Dunedin Savings Bank and the Post Office Savings Bank. ■Messrs Calvert. M'Crae, M'Lean, Jones, and the treasurer wore appointed a Finance Committee. Mr Jones submitted the report of the Banda Sub-committee. In regard to Benmore they had decided to take no further action in the matter. A copy of the letter from the Commissioner of Crown Lands on the subject was to be sent to the settlors. In regard to the educational endowment at Benmore, the lease of which expired m three years, it was decided to urge that at the end of that time the Land Board should have the first opportunity of opening up that land for returned men. The matter of reads at Clifton and Westcott settlements had been considered, and it had been decided that the secretary interview the engineer and find out what allocation had been made for roads in those places. The Minister had given consideration to the matter of a school site at Westcott, and was getting a report. In regard to stubble land, a committee had been appointed to interview the Commissioner. The matter of subdivision at Mosgisl had been looked into, and it had been, decided to leave the matter to tho secretary to find out \\ hat lands were xo bo opened up there. The association interested themselves in the transfer of a grazing run as Dunback, and opposed the granting of the transfer to a man who was not aver enthusiastic ju t-he matter of offering his services in the Expeditionary Force, with the result that the transfer was declined by the Land Board. As regards the Land Bureau, Mr Forbes Eadic, who had done goad sm-ico in Auckland, was coming to Christchurch, and the. committee recommended that lie be asked to visit .Dmicdiu with a view to enlightening- the committee ns to what was being done in Auckland. The committee recommended that representations be made, to the City Corporation to consider the advisability of extending the tram .services to outlying districts and the institution of cheap fares; also that the Government should ho urged_ to establish State sawmills, thereby reducing the prices of timber. It was decided that a conference with the Repatriation Board be hold. lie moved the adoption of the repoit. Mr MacManus submitted a minority report expressing disagreement with the portion of the Land Commitlee’s report relating to the resurvey of Benmore. He slid so because ho thought the plan submitted 'by the Commissioner of Crown Lands made ix clear that hud the areas thrown open to settlers been properly .surveyed in the first instance, and had the flat lands been evenly divided be- { tween the settlers, the sections would have been twice as wide as they now were; and, furthermore, by combining hill country with flat country, losses in stock would be minimised. The sections wore also too small. He suggested that the committee reaffirm their previous decision as to the desirability of securing a resurvey of Benmore to secure for each settler larger areas of laud, and also to combine hill country with flat country. He thought it was the duty of the Government to see justice done to the victims of such mistakes. Mr M'Crao seconded the adoption of tho report, and said h© thought it -would not be in the interests of returned soldiers to ask for a rosurvey. Mr M'Nish said ho had heard of a syndicate that had in view the purchase of the land on the route of the proposed tramway extension. He thought the returned soldier should get the first opportunity of getting that land, and that tho Government should acquire it for that purpose. The report was adopted. Tho A.A.G. Otago District (Captain Dyer) wrote in reply to tho complaint by tho association regarding kits of returning men and accommodation. The figures from the troopship Maungamti showed that the men did not take advantage of the provision made for forwarding kits to their destinations, 981 out of a total of 1,160 kits having been taken by the soldiers themselves. Further, three waggons had been at the wharves, but only one had been used. It had always been the practice of tho department to engage rooms, and he asked for a specific case to be quoted where a man had failed to get accommodation. Orders to this effect had been issued on board and all men made conversant with them.—-It was suggested that the men cared to trust the kits to no one but themselves on account of the souvenirs inside.-—Received. Mr E. S. Wilson (secretary of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Memorial Club) wrote stating that arrangements had been made for dug-outs to be erected in the streets during Peace Week, where it was proposed to sell sandwiches and light refreshments. Returned soldiers could assist by obtaining donations of sandwiches, cakes, etc. There was also the question of getting people to man these dug-outs, and to sell the goods.—lt was decided to , render all the assistance possible, and that a special meeting of members be hold im- ' mediately, the members of the Building ’ I Fund Committee to be invited to be pres- ■ sent.

’Tire secretary suggested that, in view of the restricted railway service, the period during which a returned soldier’s furlough pass‘is available should be extended. —It was decided to approve of the secretary’s suggestion and to write to tho Minister of Defence on the subject. The secretary of tho Tapntiui District Patriotic Society wrote stating he had been instructed by his committee, to bring before the notice of the association the case of a man from bis district who had died. This man had been a patient at tho Dunedin Hospital, and received orders to 'proceed by a certain boat to the Cambridge' Sanatorium. He did not consider he was fit to travel, and his nurse was astonished at the order to travel unattended, as she thought he was unfit tu travel. He went to Cambridge unattended, and returned ruiattended to Dunedin, whore he died. The writer was convinced, and so were his relatives, that the journey did him a great deal of harm.—lt was decided to bring the letter under the notice of the Minister of Defence, and ask that full inquiries be made. The secretary reported a case in the District Medical Headquarters in which a man who had had active service had received notice of demobilisation and had been replaced by a homo service man.—lt was decided, on tho motion of Mr Moir, to call the attention of the Minister of Defence to the matter, and ask that the man in question be reinstated. The secretary introduced the question of tho pav granted to the men doing specialists’ duly at the Jaw Hospital. He pointed out that these were highly-trained men from tho Jaw Hospital at Sidcup, in England. and while-'there, held the temporary rank of sergeant and received the rate of pav attaching to that rank. Since arriving in' New Zealand they had been reduced to the rank of private, unci received 5s per day. He thought they should receive 10s per dav, which was the rate of pay for specialists.—Major Pickerill, in charge of tho Woodside Hospital, said the services of these men were indispensable. The men had civil employment to go to, but the Defence Department would not give them their discharge. They .would, however, be willing to remain in the service if udt(jmflqly ills.-motion, oi Mr

M'Nish, it was resolved that repraaentaions be made to the Minister of Defence urging him to grant the men the specialists’ rate of pay. Mr Woods brought up the matter of the appointment of au inspector by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. A fit returned soldier had- been given the job, but amongst the applications there had been one from' a returned man with one arm, whom he augegsted should have been given the position.—A deputation consisting of the president, Mr Wood, and tho secretary wore appointed to wait on the S.P.C.A. and bring this matter under their notice. It was resolved on* the motion of Mr M'Crae Drat dn invitation be extended to Colonel Powles, C.M.G., D.S.O.y to deliver a lecture in Dunedin on the work of the Mounted Brigade in Palestine, the proceeds of tho lecture to be devoted to the Building Fund. The secretary reported that a meeting of limbless men was to be held in the association’s rooms at 7.30 on Monday evening. It was decided to invite member’s of the association to enter for a returned soldiers’ class at the boxing competitions to be hold in August.