REPATRIATION

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 26, 30 January 1919, Page 10

REPATRIATION

NURSERYMEN'S VIEWS

RURAL RESETTLEMENT.

At the Nurserymen's Conference yesterday Mr. George A. Green (Auckland) moved : "That this conference respectfully urge on the Government the necessity of evolving a practical and' comprehensive schemo for the settlement of returned soldiers in various forms of rural occupations, (a) It urges that the scheme should include in its scope pastoral, agricultural, horticultural, and poultry-farming, (b) That it should, in our opinion, embody, in it the main features outlined by Mr. Geo. A. Green in his recent letters to the Prime Minister, which would involve : (1) The taking of definite steps by the Government to interest the men in the various branches of the scheme during their stay in hospitals and convalescent camps in England and elsewhere. (2) The making of every effort to secure definite applications from the men for the particular class of land or occupation which they prefer before they land in New Zealand. (3) Arrangements for the drafting of the men to the place and occupation of their choice as quickly as possible after they land in New Zealand, and are found fit for employment. (4) The development as far as possible of the group or colony idea, with a view to proper training and effective control. (5) Providiug machinery for the efficient preparation of the men for the various branches of rural occupation. (6) Providing an efficient means of safeguarding the interests of the Dominion in relation to the capital advanced. (7) Providing for and financing the schemo so that a living wage shall be paid to returned soldiers while working until their farms arrive at a profit." Mr. Green said the system obtaining at present was a very bad one. Many of the men who were now idle were afraid to start work for fear their pensions would be cut off. He knew of ono manwho with his dependents was receiving about £5 a week in pensions. He was not well, and never would be well, hut the moment he took half-time work his whole pensior was struck off. When they had a proper repatriation scheme it would work wonders. They required' to go slowly, but they must impress on the soldiers that they wished to deal justly with them, and expected them to deal justly by the State: Not all the men would become orchardists or go on the land, but each man in town or village should be assured a living wage and proper training. These men ha.d been cared for for years, and many of them required to be cared for with a personal interest now. On their return they should be brought into touch with men competent to help them. Many were provided for, but thousands were not, and of these thousands a good proportion should go in for a close settlement scheme on proper lines. His proposals had, the endorsement of Mr. Massey in many respects. Mr. Muir said that it was going to be a difficult matter to draft men from various callings and make fruit-farmers, etc., of them. It seemed to him that the only way was for the Government to assist the men by'making up their wages until they were able to earn full PayMr. Cutler said men had been taken from all callings, and made soldiers. Why could they not be made fruitgrowers also 1 Mr. Nairn thought the whole question was one for the Government to undertake in a thorough manner, and that private persons and associations should give all the assistance in their power. Many of the soldiers would come- back with changed ideas, and the State had a plain duty in seeing that they were re-established in civil hfe. The motion was agreed to.