SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17294, 18 October 1919, Page 11

SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

DOMINION CONFERENCE. REPRESENTATION QUESTION. [BY TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Friday. A special Dominion conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association opened this afternoon. Dr. Boxer (Hastings) presided. Prior to the commencement of business the question of the representation of affiliated associations was brought up. Mr. N. A- Going detailed the legal position regarding the resolution passed at the Christchurch conference. He said the matter had been referred by the executive to Mr. C. P. Skerrett, E.G., who had replied that the resolution which governed the representation of associations at future conferences was mandatory. Therefore the representation could not be accepted as at September 30, 1910. He pointed out further that if the conference was unanimous, and it must he unanimous, the- representation could bo accepted up to September 30, provided such action was confirmed at a subsequent conference. Considerable discussion took place on the point, and it was stated that the executive had endeavoured to discover a method bv which the difficulty could bo overcome. It was further stated that since March 31 the membership of the association and the number of affiliated associations had almost doubled, and on the present constitution those :.'.-r members and associations were without representation at the present conference. A motion that association; which had affiliated since March ol last should haw I one delegate and one vote was deckuvi. ! carried unanimously. Mr. P. H. Watts (Hamilton) moved that the conference adopt for the purr* --■ of the registration of votes the lute, available financial membership of the a.-.-)-ciation with a view to proceedings bomi; confirmed by a later resolution, upon which voting shruM bo take,, in technical accordance with the constitution on • a show of hand.;. This was declared lost. The question of proxy voting was then raised. The chairman pointed out that he had foreseen an anomaly, which was that voting had taken piace on the present constitution, but before there had been any roll-call. Mr. Watts said he recognised there was division of opinion in the conference on the point, and he asked, and was granted, leave to withdraw his motion. After further discussion it was decided that all associations represented at the conference should have the full voting power to which they were entitled as at March 31, sad whatever number of delegates, those delegates might use their full voting power. ..