R.S.A. CONFERENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17695, 22 October 1919, Page 3

R.S.A. CONFERENCE.

(Per Press" Association.)

WELLINGTON, October 21

The Returned Soldiers' Conference discussed the question of retrospective financial assistance for men of the Main Body and eaely reinforcements. It was introduced by a remit from Waikato "That in view of the apparent unsympathetic attitude towards application made by men of the Main Body and . earlier reinforcements, application be made for statistics setting out since March 31st last (a) The number of applications made for retrospective financial assistance; (b) The number of applicants to whom assistance has been granted.

Mr. N. A. Ching, in moving the remit, said he had helped 200 people to apply for financial assistance, and not one application had been granted. Applications wei*e turned down in the Secretary's office.

After lengthy discussion, in which the system was sharply criticised, Mr. Ching witdrew the original remit, and substituted "That in view of the very unsatisfactory manner of dealing with claims put before the Board, the Conference demand that the administration oi: the Financial Assistance Act should be placed in the hands of the Repatriation Department, and that a deputation wait on the Minister to place the whole of the facts before him." This was carried unanimously.

The organisation of the Association was further referred to when an attempt was made to definitely interpret the proposals of the original committee. The matter was introduced by Mr. J. H. Luxford (Waikato), who went over the previous discussion and claimed that the original, clause with amendment added rendered the clause difficult of interpretation. The committee had again gone into the interpretation of the clause and had come to the conclusion that the following should be substituted: "Provincial Associations shall work under a common constitution, to be laid down by the Dominion Council, and the Provincial Association shall be subject to the control of the Dominion Council, and the constitution be altered accordingly." The following was the construction to be placed on the amendment: "The Provincial Associations shall be subject to the control of N.Z.R.S.A. Council (that is the Conference) in general meeting. The executive of the N.Z.R.S.A. shall have full power to enforce upon Provincial Associations the l'esolutions of the Council, but otherwise shall not control Provincial Associations." This was adopted.