SOLDIERS' CONFERENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12777, 22 October 1919, Page 3

SOLDIERS' CONFERENCE.

ADMINISTRATION OF HEADQUARTERS. [Per Peers Association.] WELLINGTON, October 21. The conference of New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Associations was resumed io-dny. It was decided to ask Parliament to receive a deputation from the conference to-morrow. A committee was appointed to inquire into conditions governing the administration of headquarters and to investigate the relations between the executive sub-committee and tiro efface staff. The conference carried a motion that the provisions of the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act should be extended to include veterans of the South African canipaign. The conference also resolved that: the benefits of the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act should be 'extended to soldiers who were discharged medically unfit from camps of military training.

HEADQUARTERS FINANCE.

The linance Committee reported, after -considering the financial statement as at September 30, that it was obvious that headquarters could not rely sufficiently on renewals for its support. At this date there were approximately nine thousand unfinancial members, whereas the immediate liabilities amounted to £lO4l 5s Id. Cash and readily realisable assets only totalled £6oo 14s 6d. The committee suggested that some drastic measures should be taken by the local associations with regard to collecting outstanding renewals, and the instruction that returns must he furnished to headquarters monthly should bo rigidly adhered to. Owing to the fact that headquarters cannot rely upon renewals, the committee recommended that capitation to headquarters bo increased to 2s 6d per member for new members, with renewals remaining as at present—namely, 2s. The committee reoommended that, iu cases where a member of tho executive is representing an association at the conference, his expenses shall be divided equally between headquarters and the local association represented. The committee especially drew the attention of the conference to the item, “Local associations to headquarters, £2296 os 2d.” This amount was actually owing by local associations for badges supplied and renewals. The statement of estimated income and expenditure showed an excess of expenditure over income of £Bl2. The report was received.