A ROYAL COMMISSION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14985, 12 August 1919, Page 2

A ROYAL COMMISSION.

R.S.A. REQUEST.

The movement of the Returned Soldiers' Association throughout New Zealand to secure a Royal Commission came befbre the Citizens' Defence Committee yesterday afternoon. The Advisory Board wrote notifying that owing to the railway restrictions it was considered wise to postpone the meeting for the time being. The main obejet of the meeting was to consider the demand of the R.S.A. for a Royal Commission to investigate patriotic fund's. If the Committee considered the Commission was not neoessary as far as the funds of the affiliated societies were concerned, it might make representations to the Minister direct.

The Chairman said that this was the first he had heard of the matter. He was not m favor of a commission being held. *

Colonel Fletcher said' it did not refer to this district, but to some districts where the funds were not administered as they might be. The soldiers m this district were quite satisfied. Mr Birrell : It does not matter if they hold a hundred commissions,, it will not affect this society. The Chairman : We have no information from the Minister m this matter. It is apparently not official. Mr Birrell: Th» Advisory Board wants us to pas a resolution saying that the Royal Commission is unnecessary. The Chairman: According to the lettefc the matter was going to be considered at the meeting of the Advisory Board. We do not know that the Returned Soldiers' Association has applied for the Commission;

Colonel Fletcher : Yes, they did <ipp]y to the Minister, but received rather an evasive reply.

Mr G. Wildish suggested the matter should be neld over, pending more information.

Colonel Fletcher said all he knew was that. he received a letter requesting the local association to support the resolution asking for the commission. The Chairman moved that the matter be held over pending the decision of the local Association.

Mr H. Kenway asked if the letter came from Auckland.

Colonel Fletcher: It came from the general secretary for New Zealand. The motion was seconded and carried.

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day. With respect to a demand by the Returned Soldiers' Association for a Royal Commission to inquire into the whole question of patriotic war funds, it apP, ea f 3 x L fr^\, correspondence published that the V.M.C.A. is the body to whose accounts the Minister's attention is 4 ra ,7*L 4 b y the association. The X.M.UA. says it courts the fullest inquiry-;. Owing tp the ramifications of its work m various countries' the task of preparing a balance sheet is necessarily lengthy, but the Government Auditors have now completed the, work, and the figures will shortly be 'available. The Returned Soldiers' Association ia stUl urging the Minister to comply with its request.