K.S.A. CONFERENCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15955, 25 October 1919, Page 5

K.S.A. CONFERENCE.

THE FINANCIAL BOARD’S WORKING, DISSATISFACTION EXPRESSED. (Per United Press Association.) ; WELLINGTON, October 24. At to-day’s sitting of the Returned Soldiers’ Association Conference . the sub-committee set up to investigate the working of the Soldiers’ Financial Board presented a report expressing dissatisfaction with that body’s methods. The committee strongly recommended that the Government be pressed to vest tho whole of the Administration Act in Repatriation Boards on the following grounds:—That the regulations will be more sympathetically construed by reason of the local knowledge of the applicant; (b) that decentralisation will further assist the applicant, inasmuch as the Board could personally oome into contact with him and arrive at a conclusion without tffio delay now experienced; (c) that a representative of the R.S.A. in each district be allowed to appear before the Board to assist applicants to place any evidence before the Board. The following motion, passed in committee, was reported to the Advisory Council in open session:—That the executive and Advisory Council of the N.Z.R.S.A. urges upon the Government that a royal commission to inquire into the administration and disposition of the war funds of the Dominion, which the Association has previously pressed for, be set up without delay, and that the order of reference of that commission be as previously laid down. Mr Bell (Wairoa) then moved that this Advisory Council of the N.Z.R.S.A. place on record its approval of the action of the executive in regard to the war funds taken in accordance with the terms of the resolution passed by the Christchurch conference, and in accordance with the executive’s request lays . it down that no further action be taken except as provided for in the motion pressing for a Royal Commission. The motion was carried without discussion. The Advisory Committee of the Returned Soldiers’ Association has resolved that the Government be asked to reorganise the Defence Department so as to insure that only officers, n.c.o.’s, and other ranks who have seen service in some campaign, irrespective of whether they belong to tile staff corps or not, he employed in the Defence Forces of the country. The Medical and Pension Committee appointed by the Conference recommended that it be strongly urged that a man suffering from T.B. should receive not. less than six months’ treatment in a sanatorium. The committee considered the same, or similar regulations, should be enforced upon civilian cases of Y.D. as upon a soldier, and to attain this end Y.D. should be made notifiable. Recommendations were adopted regarding limbless men. The Medical and Pensions Committee recommended that the Government obtain an artificial limb expert either frojn England or America, who shall be placed in charge of a central factory; that sub-branches should be established in the four centres, each having on its staff an expert limb-fitter; and that appliances should be on the free issue by post to all limbless men on application to the nearest, centre. The recommendations were adopted. Mr King (Kawakawa) moved that the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association affirm the principle that the Government should establish homes in both the North and South Islands for the treatment of returned soldiers suffering from mental trouble. Delegates protested against soldier patients being mixed with criminal oases in mental hospitals. The motion was carried. A motion was passed unanimously expressing the opinion that the replies given by Ministers to the deputation of delegates on Wednesday last were not sufficiently definite, and that the (w»eminent be urged to bring down measures giving effect to the representations at the earliest possible moment. A resolution was adopted requesting from the Minister of Lands an explanation of his action in allocating to four returned soldiers sections on the Hauraki Plains without having such sections balloted for. The remaining remits and notices of motion were referred to the executive. The proceedings then concluded.