WAR FUNDS COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 December 1928, Page 4

WAR FUNDS COUNCIL.

TARANAKI ADMINISTRATION

INVESTIGATION PROPOSED

According to advice received last evening by the executive committee of the South Taranaki Returned Soldiers’ Association, the executive of the National War Funds Council has appointed its chairman, Sir John P. Luke, and another member, Mr S. J. Harrison, to visit Taranaki for the purpose of investigating criticism made recently by the Taranaki branch of the council concerning the action of the parent body and resulting comment niade* by the South Taranaki Returned Soldiers’ Association executive concerning the Taranaki branch administration.

| As has been reported oreviously, a I meeting of delegates of the Taranaki ( branch of the council, which met in Stratford on October 17, carried a. resolution protesting against the action of the National Council (Wellington) in allegedly making disbursements and dealing jvith applications of returned soldiers in the Taranaki provincial district without first oommuncating with and obtaining the recommendation of the central committee of the Taranaki branch. This was discussed at the i monthly meeting of the Returned Soldiers’ Executive on November 2 when the. administration of the Taranaki branch of the council was accorded criticism which brought a reply in a letter from the chairman of the Taranaki branch (Mr J. W. McMillan) as ' published in “The Hawera Star” on November 23. FINALITY WANTED. The respective reports were received by the National Council Executive at W ellington with the result mentioned, the letter received from that executive last evening being dated November 28 and stating (inter alia) : “It certainly appears that things have been moving in the district .... As it is desirable and essential that finality ishould he arrived at. the executive decided that the chairman, Sir John P. Luke, and Mr S. J. Harrison should proceed to Stratford w that a conference could be held with the various parties interested, and it is hoped that a proposition will be put forward to solve the present unsatisfactory position. When definite arrangements are arrived at you will he duly advised.”

The letter, together with that forwarded to the “Star” by Mr McMillan, and a communication sent direct to the South Taranaki Returned Soldiers’ Association executive on the same date by Mr W. Power, secretary of the Taranaki branch qf the War Funds Council, asking for specific instances in support of criticism made' at the November meeting, were reviewed last evening by the association executive. In the absence of the secretary, Mr R. McC'ay, who is temporarily away, from the district, the executive resolved not to 1 enter into a detailed discussion and a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs S. R. Veit eh (president), R. McCay (secretary), and M. 0. Crighton, was appointed for the purpose of stating the executive’s case in readiness for presentation on the occasion of the visit of Sir John Luke and Mr Harrison and also' to advise Mr Power that the executive’s case would then be stajed.