SHIRKING ITS RESPONSIBILITY

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 103, 30 April 1920, Page 7

SHIRKING ITS RESPONSIBILITY

OOVERNMENT TAKEN TO TASK. OVER SOLDIER SETTLEMENT. The probability of the Government relaxing in the administration of the Soldiers' Settlement Act roused the ire of the Auckland branch of the R.S.A. at its annual meeting last night. The matter was introduced by Mr. Tom Long;, who moved the following resolution: — "That this meeting views with alarm the fact that the Government have J suspended the operations of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act and that we hold the Prime Minister to the j promise that he made to the X.Z.R.S. I Association's deputation to Parliament, t which promise included the fact that no ! legislation affecting returned soldiers I would be either suspended o r declared ! inoperative or repealed until such time las those who were entitled to the privi- '. leges could avail themselves thereof."

Considerable discussion followed, in which members of a deputation which had recently interviewed Mr. Jlassey stated that they were given to understand that there was to be a suspension of the Act with the exhaustion o£ the fourteen million grant. This was deprecated by practically all the speakers, and the point was stressed that the (iovernmont was shirking ita responsibility to the soldiers who had not yet been placed on the land. One speaker pointed out that the interests of the Dominion and the returned man were identical, and that the Government should be pressed to make further advances immediately, this attitude being preferred apainst the contention that it wtiti advisable to wait until Parliament assembled.

Th,? motion was carried practically unanimously.