RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18159, 2 February 1921, Page 3

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association was held last evening. Dr Harrison (president) being in the chair. The Hon. W. F. Massey wrote with reference to the association’s letter of December 23, asking for the appointment of a public court of inquiry to investigate tlie whole matter of the treatment of soldier mental patients. He stated ' that before this matter could be considered it would be necessary foi\ the association to forward particulars of The matters complained- of, together with the names and addresses of the patients. He would be glad if the association would arrange for this information to be supplied to the Minister in Charge of Mental Hospitals, the Hon. C. J. Barr.—A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Wilson, M‘Nish, and Jones, was set up to report to the next meeting of the executive. The question of admitting Y.M.C.A. secretaries was again discussed at some length, Messrs Smeaton and M‘Crae paying a very warm tribute to the work of members of the association overseas. —It was eventually decided that all Y.M.C.A. secretaries who had been attested and had served overseas, and who had subsequently been discharged, should be admitted to membership. Mr C. B. Wheeler wrote stating that he had received notice from the Commissioner of Taxes that his temporary pension for war disability had been included in his taxable income. He stated that the Commissioner could but tax him in accordance with the Act as it stood, and he would like to have his case placed before the committee, with a view to having the Act amended. —The Chairman said this had been a sore point for some time with those who had taxable incomes. Personally, he quite agreed with the writer of the letter that the tax was a most unjust one.—Mr M“Crae said the matter had already been before the Cabinet and nothing had been done. Apparently the charge was a matter of policy with the department. —It was decided to send the matter on to the District Committee, with a request that it should forward a strofTg remit to the next Dominion Conference, which is to be held in Dunedin in May. •