R.S.A.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue 195, 20 August 1919, Page 7

R.S.A.

AUCKLAND TALKS OF

'SECESSION

HEADQUARTERS CRITICISED.

The secession from the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association by the Auckland branch is regarded by many Auckland members as inevitable". A statement in reply to the criticisms of tho National Executive has been issued by the- Auckland Association. In explaining/ the attitude of the Auckland Executive, Mr F. Andrews remarked that on the occasion of the last Dominion conference" of tine As-sociation-the New Zealand Executive brought- down a scheme by which headquarters would, control the provincial organisers, and also t-he organising fund. A sub-committee was sot up which propounded a proposal for the existing scheme, giving the Provincial Committee control of ■the oifgaini&ers and of tihe funds for organising work. The scheme stipulated that tho local Associations should pay a. capitation fee of 2s to headquarters, and 2s to the- Provincial Committees. The proposal was approved .by a largo majority of the conference, although the president of tho Now Zealand Association and several members of tjio present Doml'niion Executive fought very bitterly against it, declaring when it was carried that it would bo a failure. Subsequently it was pointed out that the dual capitation fund would involve two returns from each Associa-i tion, and that a sampler method would be to remit! the 4s to headquarters so that tho futnds could ft be delivered to the different provincial organisations to which they were attached. Th© conference agreed to this modification. Immediately after the conference the Auckland Association, appointed its organiser and wen | to considerable experase and trouble in mapping out the district, and in duo course applied to the Dominion Executive for funds. At that time about £600 was due. The Association received no reply to its telegrams and letters, until tho Dominion Executivo had met, and then they were informed that the Dominion Executive claimed control >ver the funds. The executive intitnatied that a certain amount tvas being., placed in the bank to the credit of the Auckland provincial district, and that tihey were nominating certain mcraters of the Provincial Committee to operate on the fund, but. that the funds would -remain, the. property of the executive, and they claimed tho right to stop payment at any tiime and place-. Naturally, the Auckland Provincial Committee objected to this coiirse as boing absolutly contra.ry to the intention and decision of the conference, and regarded the attitude of the exe>cutive as an endeavor to force the branches to accept the scheme they had unsuccessfully brought before the conference. Already .expenses to the amount of well over £100 had been incurred in connection with the organisation scheme, and a member of the Association had had to find this money privately, as there were no funds available.

"Since the conference/ continued Mr Andrews, "headquarters have tried every means in their pow<er to> hamper the scheme of provincial organisation." Moreover, their intention was revealed-by a resolution passed at a meeting of the executive since the conference tlo the effect that, subject to notification and reasons being sent to branch associationsj;;.;the.; decision .-of th© conference mighti be modified if, in its opinion, such modifications were vital and immediately necessary in view of new condition."; having arisen,.

With regard to political action, Mr Andrews remarked that there was certainly .an impression amongsti the Auckland members that the determinied efforts made by headquarters to prevent the- organising scheme being carried out in Auckland province were the restilti of the attitude of < the local Association, towards political action, and that the Central Executive did not wish tthe Auckland Association to become any stronger than at present. Already the Auckland province represented 40 per cent, of the total membership of the Dominion. It should be understood, moreover,, that the Auckland organiser had received definite instructions that he was not to push political action in connection with his duties. It was certainly the intention of the Auckland Association to battle for political action, but the cost of so doing would be defrayed from the local Association's funds. The organisation fund would not be used ifor that purpose. Jn conclusion, Mr Andrews pointed out that the strongest opponents of political action had "been members holding appointiment under the Government, and that> ■civil servants were represented strongly on the Dominion Executive.