SALVATION ARMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20767, 9 January 1931, Page 12

SALVATION ARMY.

IMPORTANT REFORMS.

DECISIONS OF CONFERENCE.

[from our own correspondent.] LONDON, Dec. 4. In an official statement published last week, General Higgins sums up the results attained by the International Conference of Salvation Army Commissioners. General Higgins first mentions that at the time of his election he expressed the opinion that three main reforms were required, and these lie pledged himself to carry out. They were: (1) The abolition of the general's right to nominate his successor; (2) the fixing of an age-limit for the retirement of the general; (3) the substitution of a trustee company to hold the properties and capital assets of the Army in place of the sole trusteeship of the general. '

"As a further check," General Higgins continues, "I proposed the setting up of a board of arbitration, to consist of five leading officers, chosen out of a standing panel of 20, which might, be called into being at any time to arbitrate in any difference, disagreement or grievance which might lie between the general and any commissioner or other leading officer whose duties bring him under the immediate control of the general, except in regard to matters of a purely administrative character or such as have direct relation to appointments or rank. "I proposed that either the officer concerned or the general should be at liberty to call for the setting' up of such a board of arbitration whenever necessary; the decision of the board to be final and binding on both parties. The proposal was carried unanimously. V

"After carefully exploring all other means open to it, the conference decided by a very large majority to empower me to apply to Parliament for the necessary powers to modify the terms*of the existing trust deed, so as to embody the above-mentioned constitutional changes. A minority of the commissioners were in favour of somewhat more radical changes, but tho vote of the majority was decisive against further present modifications of the authority and powers of the general. "This decision I believe to be wholly wise. The safeguards now to be provided against abuse of the powers exercised by a general are, in my opinion, ample for all practical purposes. The fierce light thrown upon the office of the general by the events of two years ago, the evidence then given of the powers resident in the High Council, the advisory councils already in existence, added to the limitations now proposed, should suffice to put all nocessarv checks upon any disposition on the part of a general to make arbitrary use of his powers." It was decided that the general should retire at the age of 70. The present flge of General Higgins is 67.