RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 18812, 10 December 1924, Page 9

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

EXECUTIVE MEETING. The last monthly meeting for this year of the Executive Committee of the Dunedin Relumed Soldiers’ Association was held in the dub rooms last evening. Air Eric Anderson, in the absence of the president, presided over a good attendance. Three now members for the month wore reported by the secretary, four resignations were received, and two deaths had occurred. Tho Secretary reported that Mr G. \V. Raymond, who was president, of the War Contingent Association in London during the war, had recently been in Dunedin, but, owing to the shortness of bis stay, it had not been possible to arrange a meeting.—lt was resolved to write to Mr Raymond staling that a meeting would bo arranged when ho next visited Dunedin. Tho Secretary also reported that the president (Mr j. M'Crao) and himself had attended the post-sessional meeting held by tho Otago Expansion League last month. —It was decided to thank the league for the invitation, and to intimate an intention of joining tho league. Correspondence was received from Sir Francis Bell in reference to tho petition signed by Mr M. B. Scanned and others praying for resumption of operations under tho Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act. lie stated that the report the Editions Committee had been crmsuie'red by Cabinet, and it was regretted that no action could bo taken at present in tho direction of resuming operations under the Act. As previously advised, the Lands and Survey Department accepted applications from T.B. or badly disabled men for assistance towards the erection of dwellings, and with the funds at tho disposal of tho Government it was not possible to accept any additional applications.—Mr Paterson moved that the association expresses its regret that Cabinet bad seen fit to take no action in regard to the petitions presented, and that a copy of the hitler bo sent to all associations.—The motion was carried.—On the. motion of Mr P. S. Anderson it was decided to press for an assurance horn the Prime. Minister that the advances would bo resumed as soon as the financial position permitted. —The matter of transfers of loans was discussed at length, and it was eventually decided to ask headquarters to take stops to have all transfers to civilians slopped, except such as were made in accordance with the provisions of the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association forwarded a. cheque for £44 Is sd, being a refund of tho amount overpaid by the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association on account of the reallocation of overhead expenses.—lt was decided that the amount stand over for nest year’s effort.

The City Council wrote stating (hat the association’s request to have the whole of the rates on its building refunded could not be acceded to, but tbo council had decided to make, a grant of £25, as was done Inst year.—Decided to thank the council. The Secretary reported that Howlers’ Day was to be held on the Dunedin Green on Saturday, December 20.'—■ Noted.

The, Secretary formally reported that at a meeting with the Minister of Lands (tho Hon. A. D. JDLcocl) it was promised by the Minister that the Wilden Estate would he subdivided. This had been confirmed by the Minister to a deputation at Tapanui. —The Minister's decision was noted with pleasure, and the secretary was instructed to communicate with him in connection with preference to discharged soldiers at tho ballot. Mr Eric Anderson referred to the recent action of tho Dunedin City Council in Jetting a contract to a military defaulter, following a deputation ■ from the Returned Soldiers’ Association. Ho said ho thought they should ask headquarters to furnish a list of the names of all defaulters appearing in tho 1 Gazette,’ to ho supplied to all .Returned Soldiers’ Associations in Now Zealand. He moved in that direction. Mr W. F. Forrester seconded, and tho motion was carried. Mr Anderson then moved that headquarters ho asked fo endeavor to have section 13 of tho Expeditionary Forces Act, 1910, widened in order that independent contractors might be placed on the same footing as employees in respect to dealings with the Crown or local bodies. This was seconded by Mr 11. 11. Walker, and was carried.—-It was also decided to accord Mr E. Anderson a vote of thanks for tbo manner in which ho had placed tho matter before the City Council. A motion of condolence was passed with tho widow of the, late Mr R. M'Narcy, and with relatives of the late Mr A. F. Mackay.

At tho conclusion of tho meeting tho chairman expressed season’s greetings to the secretary and his staff. Tbe Dunedin association had come through tho year most successfully, ho said, and there was nothing to stop its continuing in tho same way next year.