DISPUTED AUTHORITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12720, 15 August 1919, Page 6

DISPUTED AUTHORITY.

[Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, August 14. The general secretary of the New Zealand Returned (Soldiers’ Association, interviewed with reference to the ieported attitude of the Auckland branch in withholding amounts due to the New Zealand Headquarters, said that the standing sub-committee of the Dominion Executive had carefully considered the matter and was of opinion that the Auckland Association’s action was flagrantly unconstitutional. Tills action was intended to support the Auckland District Committee, which had telegraphed in strong terms questioning a motion passed by the Dominion Executive providing for opening district accounts authorised hy the annual conference of the New Zealand Association. The sub-committee was at that time arranging for the opening of accounts in Auckland and other centres, and telegraphed objecting to the tenns of the Auckland telegram and stating what had been done. The Auckland secretary responded that his provincial committee did not recognise the final authority of tho Dominion Executive over expenditure of provincial funds and had requested all associations in Auckland district to suspend payment to the New Zealand headquarters. The answer of headquarters to this was to suspend the authority of the district committee to operate on the account opened in Auckland. The Auckland City Association, at a meeting of members, endorsed their representatives’ stand and made the matter oubllc.