RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 19023, 19 August 1925, Page 2

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

MEETING OF COMMITTEE The Executive Committee of the Dunedin Reiurned Soldiers’ Association met in tho dub last night, Air E. J. Anderson presiding. THE CASHMERE SANATORIUM. An extract from tho minutes of the Standing Sub-committee of tho New Zealand body stated that correspondence from the Christchurch R.S.A. informed that the civilian male patients were to bo transferred from the lower to the upper sanatorium, where extra shelters would be built. The civilian patients so transferred would be expected to do the same fatigues, etc., as they had done in tho iowar_ sanatorium, hut it was not intended in any way to interfere with tho privileges of the soldier patients in the upper sanatorium. It was considered that the arrangements made would be satisfactory to all concerned. Advice to this effect had been supplied to the Minister of Defence.—This was noted with satisfaction* MILITARY DEFAULTERS. A further extract from the minutes stated that the opinion of the Crown Law Office as conveyed to the association by tho Minister of Defence' on March 25 had been referred io the legal members of the Executive Standing Sub-committee for consideration. The latter had considered that the opinion as set out in tho Minister’s letter was correct. Briefly, the opinion was that tho N.Z.E.F. Amendment Act, 1918, provisions were not intended to cover tho case of a military defaulter, as an independent contractor, making contracts with the Crown, or local or other public authorities, although it appeared that section 13 of this Act intended that no local or other public authority would, unless such a course was unavoidable, enter into such a contract with a military defaulter once tho fact that he was such had been brought to its notice. _ After some discussion, during which it was mentioned that headquarters had been requested to take action to have the Act amended in order to prevent a military defaulter, as an independent contractor, making contracts with tho Crown or with local authorities, it, was eventually resolved—1. “ That the Government be urged to amend tho legislation so as to render contracts entered into by the Crown or local or public authorities avoidable; and 2. “ That the Government he urged to ensure that each Crown, local, or public authority be supplied with a roll of military defaulters.”

EXEMPTION FROM RATES. The question of exemption of soldiers’ clubs from the Rating Act was discussed, and satisfaction was exi pressed at tho progress that had been [made in this direction. It was decided to write to Mr T. K. Sidey, as tho I senior member, pointing out that soldiers’ clubs were on a different footing i from other organisations of a similar nature, as they were non-revenue producing. 1 GENERAL. Four new members and one honorary member were elected," three resignaItions were received,_ and one transfer j inwards was dealt with. I A deputation was appointed to wait ion the directors of the New Zealand ! and South Seas Exhibition regarding ; the employment of returned men at the ! Exhibition. | It was agreed to hold future execnI Live meetings on tho second and fourth ■Tuesdays in the month, and it was further decided to hold a social evening on September 1.