RELIEVING DISTRESS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20374, 3 July 1934, Page 14

RELIEVING DISTRESS.

New Proposal Rejected by

R.S.A

An endeavour was made at last evening’s meeting of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association to have the Benevolent Committee and the Employment Committee abandoned and for a new body to be called the General Purpose Committee to take their place. The proposal was moved by Mr T. L. Drummond, who said the present system was not effective. There was a distinct weakness because the committee had no executive authority. The proposed committee should consist of three men only. Mr W. E. Leadley seconded the motion.

Mr E. Orchard: Mr Drummond has convinced me that this association should drop unemployment relief altogether and allow the Labour Department to deal with the whole question.

Mr C. Chisnall supported most of the proposed scheme: but he took strong exception to Mr Orchard's remarks. The speaker understood that the association’s funds were to be given as a little extra for work done by returned soldiers.

The Rev F. T. Read, president of the association, gave a ruling that it was not in the power of the executive to give any committee full executive powers. He was of the opinion that the present unemployment committee was quite equal to handling all business brought before it. He thought that the Employment Committee should be given time to finalise the scheme adopted a month ago. The voting resulted six for and six against, and the president gave his casting vote against the new proposal.