THREE REQUESTS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 44, 30 August 1928, Page 15

THREE REQUESTS

AFRICAN WAR VETERANS DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS Decisions reached by the annual conference of tUo South African War Voterans' Association were placed before members of Cabinet to-day by a deputation representing the conference. Ministers present wero tlio Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart), the Minister of Lands (the Hon. A. D. M'Leod), and the Minister of Justice (the Hon. F. J. Rolleston). Mr. J. J. Clark said the deputation desired to urge the application of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act to South African veterans, and also that the funds of the National War Funds Council should be made available to them. They also wished several questions affecting pensions to be adjusted. Mr. J. Simpson suggested it was time a sum of money should bo earmarked for South African veterans who desired to settle on the land. There was no doubt that New Zealand owed something to the men who had made up the first expeditionary force which had left the country. The late Mr. Massey had made all sorts of promises to them. Colonel Fraser recalled promises which had been made by the Government that the question of including South African veterans under the D.S.S. Act would be considered. The Minister of Lands said he did not know that all sorts of promises had been made by Mr. Massey. The Government had done all it possibly could to carry out the promises made by the late Prime Minister Mr. Simpson said it had been promised that they would come under the D.S.S. Act immediately those who took part in the Great "War had been provided for. The Minister said all those claims had not yet been met, and he had at least 500 applications before him for loans with which to build houses. The D.S.S. Act was at present closed, through' insufficiency of funds, except to those who were suffering from a 50 per cent, disability. The Minister ■pointed out that under the ordinary settlement scheme a South African veteran was included in the first class so far as ballots were concerned. The D.S.S. Act could not be reopened for South African veterans alone. Mr. Simpson said they did not seek preference; all they "wanted was the reopening of the Act. He was sure Parliament would support that request. Mr. M'Leod: "Parliament might,'because it doesn 't have to find tho cash. But Cabinet has the responsibility." Speaking in regard to pensions, Mr. Clark said the conference had decided to urge that all South African veterans, on reaching the age of 65, should receive a military pension. That had been done in the case of the Maori War veterans. It was also asked that the present pension of £13 per annum should be increased to £52 per annum. That would involve an additional expenditure of approximately £3800. Mr. Rolleston. said there was no desire on' tho part of the Government to disparage in any way the,services rendered by the.South African veterans. So far as the request for a pension as of right was concerned, that would 'involve the Government in< an expenditure which it could not face, as it would-be necessary to extend- the same right to veterans of the Great War. Mr. Rolleston said he thought Mr. Clark was optimistic in regard to the expenditure which would bo involved in an. increase in pensions to £52 a year. He would place tho snatter before ' Cabinet. Mr. Clark also urged that the funds of the War ■ Funds Council should be made available to South African veterans who were in distress. The Minister of Finance said if it was feasible to help the South African veterans in that way the Government would be very pleased to do so, but it was just a question whether they could alter the terms of the trust under which the...fund Jiad been established. A very big principle was involved, and he1 did not think Parliament would view an amendment of the trust with a very friendly eye. He did not know what the position of the Canteen Fund was. • Mr. Clark: "That seems to be a closer corporation still." Mr. Stewart said there did not seem to bo any restriction on the Canteen Fund. The Rev. Mr. Dutton said it might be possible for tho Government to place a sum of money in the hands of some body for the benefit of South African veterans. Mr. Stewart said he would be very glad to look into that question. The Government was anxious to do all it could to help tho South African veterans, but they were up against it all the time. The Government was charged with over-borrowing, and had to step very warily.