RETURNED SOLDIERS' AFFAIRS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2123, 15 May 1922, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS ' AFFAIRS.

WELLINGTON DISTRICT CONFERENCE. The annual conference of delegate! from the twenty-two branches of the Returned Soldiers’ Association embracing Wellington district, extending as far north as Napier on the one side and New Plymouth on the other, was held in Palmerston North during the week-end. The district president, Mr B. J. Jacobs, presided. In the annual report it was shown that the financial membership had fallen off in the district by 3896 by the previous year, and the balance-sheet showed an excess of expenditure over revenue of £123 T6/2. An important remit affecting the constitution of the Association was moved on behalf of the Wellington branch by .Mr G. Mitchell, M.P., as follows: —“That the delegates of the Wellington association , to the district conference be instructed to use their best endeavours for the abolition of the district scheme with a view to returning to the previous method of district representation at the New Zealand conference.” Mr Mitchell stated that last year Wellington district scheme cost £428. The same purpose would be achieved by the delegates going direct to the Dominion conference. The present scheme was unweildly, and the straitened financial circumstances of the Association necessitated the internal administration being conducted as cheaply as possible.—Mr H. B. Sievwnght, of Wellington, seconded the motion. Among the other speakers who followed, some for, others against, there was one who observed: “What we have been brought here for is not worth the time and money spent, therefore I support the remit.” Dr Gow, president of the Levin branch, and others representative of smaller bodies, contended that the interests of the country members were better served by the affairs of the district being concentrated than by being discussed in the wide sense. That would happen at a conference where representatives of the four centres and branches all over the country were, present. The remit was negatived by a big majority. Coupon Week 1 at Collinson and Cunninghame’s is fully advertised on page’ 6. Nineteen coupons entitling you to concessions of from 3d to 20/, have been printed. Clip those which interest you most and. pocket the accompanying savings; The concessions are obtainable only upon presentation of these, coupons*^.