RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 1682, 2 June 1919, Page 4

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

THE CHRISTCHURCH CONFERENCE.

(Per Press Association). CHISRTCHTJRCH, May 31. -At the Returned Soldiers' Conference last night, the Organisation Committee recommended -the creation of four districts, each of which should call a conference of Associations, to set up a district committee to consider the appointment and control of paid organisers. It was proposed that a rebate or 5s should ho made for each member transferred from one Association during the first three months of the financial year, except in the case of Ilotorua. The proposed basis of representation of local Associations at the Conference was one vote for every 200 financial members or fraction thereof, provided that no more than five delegates should be allowed to attend, nor that any Association should exercise more than 40 votes.

It was proposed that each of the four centres iii conference should elect one vice-president and three members, except in the case of "Wellington, for which live members were recommended.

The committee also recommended that in" the event of any district committee or local Association desiring to alter the constitution of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, to allow such Association to take political action, that a referendum should bo taken of financial members of all local Associations throughout New Zealand. Mr Laing moved the adoption of 'the remit brought down by the Executive, the main point of which was that district organisers should be controlled by headquarters, and not by district committees.

The remit was rejected on the voices, and an addition was agreed to that any district committee or local Association could enter another district with the consent of the district committee concerned to combat any proposed alteration in the constitution, and that tho headquarters should be empowered, with the consent of the district committee, to make or combat any similar proposals. It was decided that the maximum number of delegates to conference should be three, and that Associations with a membership up to 1000 should have one delegate, up to 2500 two and over 2500 three.

It was also decided that the basis of representation should he one vote for evei'v 500 members. The clauso proposing a referendum on political action was held over until the next Conference.

Discussion 011 the Organisation Committee s report wns continued this morning'. The. basis of representation which was agreed to, provides that no 1 Association shall bo permitted to exercise more than twenty votes. The executive was instructed not- to accept the application of any Association numbering less than 100 members, but riV'l n , ot <-0 apply to any Association alii hated or in process of affiliating, ihe finance committee; estimated the income for the incoming year at £3750 and the expendture £3283 15s. A motion to ask the Government to set up a Commission to inquire into the question of employing permanently disabled men in Government departments other industries was carried. „ following officers were elected: J I resident Dr Boxer; treasurer Mr 11 J. Aldnch; executive Auckland, Messrs JWtts, Long, Pollock, and Clung; \Vellmgton, Messrs Batten, Harper Cm-tayne, Bell, Cowlcs and •Jacob; Palmerston North was fixed as \i,V'n °£ th f, district - Canterbury, rlf a -JV t a -Anderson, Scott - Miller' ean ' Lain S. Graham, and