N.Z. RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 29 May 1919, Page 4

N.Z. RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

QUESTION OF POLITICAL ACTION. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 28. The question of political action was discussed at the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Conference to-day. Before the discussion opened the president suggested that every delegate’s vote should lie recorded, and ho moved that, for the purpose of this discussion on proposed political action of the association, the words “political action” shn.il moan activity which is connected with the election of candidates for Parliament. This was carried.

Mr. Read (Auckland) moved; “That the article dealing with the scope of the association be altered by the deletion of the word ‘non’ that appears in front of til© word ‘political.’ He said he felt that the future of the association depended on the remit being adopted. He had been opposed to political action, but Parliament "iiad' completely failed in. its responsibilities. Local associations had redressed thousands of grievances, bur the executive had been a failure, except to secure an adequate mufti allowance, at tlio price of selling the claims of the first 20,000 men who had returned. After dealing with the attempts of the association to secure assistance, ho said the strongest claim was for the retrospective) allowance to- married soldiers. The association had now been offered, as a bribe (because the ©lection was approaching) what was asked, and it was offered as a gilt, not as a right. Realising that every pledge made by Parliament had been broken, he became a convert to political action, but no party action. If in on© electoratethere were three or more candidates, tiie association should place a pledge before, them to sign, and if all signed the members of the association could support whom they pleased. If on© refused to sign tiie association should endeavour to secure his defeat. In seconding the motion, Air. Gill (Wanganui) said the only power they ccuid have was political power. Mr. Cowles (Wanganui) moved an amendment that ‘non-party’ bo substituted in the motion for 'political.’ Mr. Andrews agreed to accept this. Air. Watts (AVaimau?) suggested that no amendment of the motion shoidd bo admitted.

Tho president said if the conference accepted or refused the principle ol political action, as indicated in tiie motion, it was competent to decide whether action should bo party political action, or non-party. The prime issue was clearcut political or non-political action. Having deckled that, then amendments and further definitions could ho admitted.

Mr. Hastings (Temuka) said no one could deny the grievances of the soldiers, but’tho Government would really, do what it could if it was not hampered by party action. The politicians had gone back on their promises. The measure should be delayed until they got the pulse-bent of the whole Dominion. Mr. Willis (ILnvera) said the association should not‘adopt political action as far as the election of members was concerned, but should try to cleanse polities. Air. Long (Auckland) said ho could find no other means of reform save by political: action. The association had arrived at a. dead end, and the expense of tiie conference would be waste if no action was taken. Air. Ala lone ’(Napier) said if the action was taken as proposed they would alienate a large amount of public support. It would bo the first step towards the end of tlio association. Air. Reeves (Hastings) said they must be careful Sis to how they used tho right of political action. The association might he used by unscrupulous men to furthier their own ends. Air. Cowles (Masterton) said the only political action they should indulge in was that referring directly to soldiers. Mr. Dalltonse (Auckland) said he wanted the association to wake up from tho lethargy of non-political action.

Mr. Harffe (Wellington) said if by political action they would get unity in the association ho would soon support it. but he doubted if unity would bo attained that way. Australia had taken political action, and had failed. Success would lie in getting tho general public behind them. Many people had assisted the association because it was non-political, and members would bo false to their trust if they departed from the constitution. Mr. Walters (Christchurch) said the principal of the association were non-politicalism and non-sectarianism. To-depart from these would result in the loss ■of public support. Individual members should bring pressure to hoar upon members of Parliament. He suggested that members should bo selected by the association to stand for Parliament in. the interests of returned soldiers.

Air. Pkdlock (Auckland) said that only by such action as was proposed could grievances bo remedied. There would bo no 'interference with the ordinary controversial politics. Mr. Best (D'nnnevirke) was opposed to taking any deliberate and particular political stand. Air. APAliums (Dunedin) was opposed to political action. Air. Jacobs (Palmerston North) said the i),cts_ on. the Statute Book were most equitable, but the administration was bad. If a political body was formed it would probably result in a split in tbo association.

Air.. Reid .Blenheim) protested again .st direct political action. Mossrs. Brown and Pridham (Wanganui) affirmed the proposal. The former said he would like to see definite limitations of the proposed political action incorporated in ill© motion. Mir. Watts (Waikato) said tho public of Mew Zealand looked to the returned sold ier to strike tho right note in politics . The association could decide upon tho form of political action after the mo'.iion. had been carried.

Mr, Luxford (Waikato) said if the proposal was to confine action cxclusivJely to returned soldiers’ interests, he. would vote against it. He appealed to< the conference to pass the motion in odder that they could deal with the formation of a definite party and platform.

, At tho afternoon sitting Mr, Percy Brandon (Wellington) said he understood that, under civil service regulations, no civil servant could belong to a political -organisation. If the association formed itself into a political body, in • cry civil servant in it would bo obliged to resign. He would strongly oppose the motion if such a disability mere placed upon civil servants. Ho diid not think the time ripe for the association to form .itself into a political iijjSociatioa»

Mr. ‘Washer (Taiwanga) said that there were a number of members of the association in tbo military forces, and, according to army regulations, no sc.idior was allowed to take part in any political association. Mr. N. B. AFAllum (Christchurch) said that the men who, had gone away were of all shades of political opinion, and it was doubtful whether on their return they could be expected to see eye to eye with one another on party politics; rather, they would stand by their own political beliefs. It was treading on clangorous ground to depart from a policy which had the unanimous approval of the public, and the association should apply itself to constructive schemes for the general good. Mr. Withy (Nelson) said the only bond that was holding the association's members together was the fact that they had all seen active service, and that they were all out for the good of the men who had gone to the war and returned injured and their dependents. The danger of division if the motion was carried was very real. After the debate, which lasted until nearly 7 p.m., the .Auckland remit in favour of political action was negatived by 57 votes to 25. Mr. Andrews then thanked the opponents of political action for their .sportsmanlike attitude towards the remit. His side was beaten, but not discouraged, but there would bo no split. (Applause.) He intended to work fairly to reverse the decision, in’ the next conference.

STATEMENT BY £lll J. ALLEN. CHRISTCHURCH, May 28. Sir Jas. Alien attended the returned soldiers’ conference this afternoon, and the matter of retrospective allowances was gone into with him. Sir James said there had been a difficulty owing to the Imperial records. Ho recognised tlio unfairness of paying only from the date of embarkation, and ins estimate was based on the date of going into camp. Ho proposed to pay in June what had been already agreed on, and, if the conference could suggest a way out, lie would pay from the date of attestation, but this- would be a second payment. In regard to children’s allowances, the conference could discuss tiie matter, and Cabinet would give its decision full consideration. So far, however, lie did not think retrospective allowances to children were justifiable. Speaking of repatriation, he said that tlio present machinery, with certain amendments, would fulfil most requirements. Ho gave it us his candid opinion that the more tlio association kept out of politics the better. Replying to statements regarding the employment of returned soldiers in the Defence Department, Sir James Allen said that it bad been tiie policy of the Department to give preference to capable and suitable returned soldiers of all ranks when filling positions in the Department, and a periodical purging of thorn was made in respect of men who were not returned soldiers. There had been n,o alteration recently in this policy. Tho recent speeding up in this matter of purging was due to the number of fit men arriving in tho Dominion and tho greater number of Staff Corps and Permanent Staff positions becoming available.

He added that General Richardson has not yet assumed his duties as Officer in Charge of Administration. AIR. RUSSELL ANNOYED. WELLINGTON, May 28.

The Alinistor for Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. Russell) stated to-day that his attention had been drawn to the report of Iho Returned Soldiers’ Association meeting at Christchurch, in which the chairman said that there was no question that the Government, or, rather, the Minister for Internal Affairs, would attempt to collar those funds for his own pet schemes. For instance, it was suggested that they might he used for a sanatorium for consumptive soldiers. Tli at idea was preposterous. Air. Russell said he had, therefore, telegraphed to the president of the conference as follows:, —“(1) I emphatically deny that tho Government has any desire to collar nr otherwise interfere with patriotic funds: its only responsibility j? to see that they are exocndid under the War Funds Act- tor +he nurnnses to" n-bfi-fi they were raised; (2) no suggestion has been made by me that ‘patriots funds might ho used for a sanatorium for consumptive soldiers.’ I shall, therefore, feel obliged if you will inform me of your authority for the above statement, or, in tho alternative, withdraw it.’’ POSITION OF SOLDIERS’ DEBTS. CHRISTCHURCH, Alay 29. Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce interviewed Sir James Allen and asked that the Gazette regulation dated Alay 2, designed to protect soldiers from exploitation he made clear. Tho deputation stated that business people doubt whether the regulation applied to debts incurred by soldiers after they became civilians again. If it did apply in that way it would operate against tho returned soldiers, because the business people, in order to protect themselves, would insist on returned soldiers paying cash. Tho Alinistor said that tho Government wished to protect returned soldiers, but not to injure their credit. Ho did not think the regulations would apply after they became civilians, hut he would ask the Attorney-General to have the. moaning of tho regulation made quite clear.