ADDRESS TO R.S.A.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 210, 21 June 1950, Page 4

ADDRESS TO R.S.A.

PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS “MISUNDERSTANDING AND RUMOURS” (P.A.) _ WELLINGTON, June 20. The Prime Minister (the ,Rt. Hon. S. G. Holland) took the opportunity to clear up “misunderstanding and rumours of the Government’s attitude to the R.S.A. on taking office,” when he spoke at the conference of the Council of the New Zealand R.S.A. to-day.

In the' early days of .taking office, he said, the association had sent 'a. deputation, headed by its Dominion president (Major-General Sir Howard Kippenberger) offering the Government its whole-hearted co-operation and support, and suggesting that it should see legislation affecting the association before it was considered by Parliament. Mr Holland said that he could, not give that guarantee, but that he and his colleagues would always be willing to hear representations and discuss matters affecting the welfare of former servicemen. It would not be possible to extend that privilege requested .to one section without granting it to other sections of the community. As a result, there had been talk that the Government was not prepared to co-operate with the association, and he wished to take the opportunity of refuting those statements and saying that the Government would always be willing to co-operate with the association. Referring to the work of the present conference, Mr Holland said the Government would give the decisions of the conference the full consideration to which they were entitled He also referred to a “tendency for the Government to be regarded as a huge quartermaster’s store, to provide a limitless amount of service and money.” There was now a new quartermaster and a new adjutant and both wanted it known that nothing could .be taken from the store without something first being put into it, said Mr Holland. One of the greatest disservices any Government could do was to issue something it did not have, and thus undermine the economy of the country. A special committee of Cabinet which had been set up would confer with the association on matters affecting it, said the Prime Minister.