EX-SERVICEMEN

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 130, 5 June 1933, Page 10

EX-SERVICEMEN

LEAGUE DEPUTATION

OBJECTION TO CAMPS

NUMEROUS DEMANDS

Eepresentatives of an organisation known as the Ex-Servicemen's League interviewed the Minister of Employment (the Hon. A. Hamilton) today, and placed before Mm the case of unemployed members of the league. The spokesman for the deputation, Mr. C. H. Burgess Newman, submitted a number of demands, including, one that exservicemen should receive an extra day's work to the value of fifteen shillings. It was also urged that the members of the league should not be compelled to go into camps. After expressing doubt as to whether the men were wise in making demands on the Unemployment Board, the Minister undertook to give consideration to the matters brought under his notice. The deputation was introduced by Mr. Pi. Semple, M.P., who apologised for the absence of Mr. P. Fraser, M.P. He said that many of the men who had served their country during the war were suffering severe disabilities at the present time owing to the' loss of employment, and it was to protect such men that the league had been formed. Mr. Newman said that the case which he had to submit to the Minister had the approval of the rank and file of the organisation. ■ i The Minister: What does the organisation represent?,. Is it distinct from the Eeturned Soldiers' Association? ■' Mr. Newman: Yes, it is distinct from the R.S.A. It is composed of all exseryicemen, irrespective of- the capacity 'in which they served. The Minister: How do you distinguish yourselves from the returned soldiers? Mr. Newman said that the members of the league felt that their ends could be better served by the formation of a, separate organisation. It was representative of Imperial men as well as New Zealanders. Mr. Hamilton: Is it a Dominion organisation, or is it confined to Wellington? , , "At present it is confined to Wellington," replied Mr. Newman, "but branches are being formed in other parts of New Zealand. So far there has not been a Dominion conference." LEAGUE ANT) E..S.A. Mr. Hamilton: Is there any, difference of, opinion between your organisation and the Returned Soldiers' Association? ■,'.■.■ ■ ■' Mr. Newman said it was felt that the scope of the R:S.A. was too limited. He wanted'to make it plain that the league was not antagonistic to the RtS.A., and there was no desire to belittle the work .which was being '.performed' by that organisation. The Minister said that, generally speaking, he liked to receive representations from official bodies. He did not like breaking up existing organisatidns. A member of the deputation: We have no deair,e t6 break up the E.S.A. The Minister pointed out that there was also a relief workers' organisation in existence. : Mr. Newman: That is. so/ but it is felt that the relief "workers'/.organisation could not deal with the matters we intend to bring before you. POINTS SUMMARISED. Mr. Newman went on to say that it was becoming increasingly evident that the relief work was not suitable for a number of men who were suffering from war disabilities. He submitted that the State,should honour the promise it had made to the men who had served in the war. He proceeded! to read a number of demands, which are summarised as follows: —(1) Sustenance payments to be made in accordance with the Unemployment Act, 1930; (2) the restoration of the two hours' cut; (3) an extra day's'work for all,ex-servicemen; (4) abolition of levy payments; (5) where reductions are made in the number of men employed on city jobs'1 ex-servicemen not to be put off; (6) no further, reductions in pension payments, and the immediate restoration of the pension cuts; (7) the disability pension should not be taken into account in assessing the earning; power of ex-servicemen; (8) ex-service-men whose health has been impaired should be placed on an economic pension; (9) men suffering from war disabilities should, receive light work at full rates; (10) no ex-serviceman to be ordered into camp or on to a farm; (11) security ' for ex-servicemen in possession of homes; (12) the writing-down of State Advances mortgages; (13) arrears of interest to be written off and not capitalised; (14) new boots'to be provided for ex-servicemen and their wives and children without extra work; (15) the raising of the school-leaving age to sixteen; (16) the supply of State coal at Is 6d a bag. .' " "A VERY HARD WORD." In his reply, ,the Minister said that he. desired to express his keen regret that men who had served their country should be experiencing such difficult times. He fully appreciated the position they found themselves' In, and regretted it was not possible to do more for them. :It would .• have been preferable from his point of view if the representations had come officially from the Returned Soldiers' Association, al.though he did not object' to hearing their side of the case. "I notice you use the word 'demand'," said, the Minister.; "That, is a very hard word, and I think 'request',would have been preferable. However, that is a matter for you to decide. You ask for the restoration of the two-hour cut. Well, I'm'afraid'that can't be done. Then you ask for preferential treatment in the matter of an extra day's work. -That would': be giving ex-ser-vicemen-preference over all other relief workers." < Mr. Newman: When we went to the war promises were made that when we returned wo would be treated as a section. Mr. Hamilton: If you think that the Government has. failed in its obligation to you that is a different matter. It is not a matter for the Unemployment Board. There were other matters raised by the deputation, v such as the payment of pensions, which did not come within the province of the board, the Minister added. * . • > A member of the deputation said that there was the case of a man who received a pension of 19s 2d a week. Because of that he was deprived of work for one and a half days. The Minister took a note of the case and promised to inquire into it. THE CAMP QUESTION. Eeferring to the question of camps, the Minister said there were any amount of returned soldiers in camps at present. Mr. Newman: That is quite true, but they have been, forced to go there. Ho added that the: men in his organisation were determined that they womld not go into camp. The Minister: I think there is far too mu»h being made of this.breaking

up of homes. Men have had to g» away from their homes right through tfca history of New Zealand. Mr. Newman: But' under different conditions. • ' ■ ' He said that the returned men knew the demoralising effects of camp life, and he appealed to the Minister to grant an exemption in the case of exservicemen. Mr. Hatrn'tnn expressed the view that the deputation was hot wise in demanding that boots should be supplied without extra .work being done, and expressed doubt, whether the rank and file of the organisation was behind_ such a . request. He undertook to give the representations of the deputation' every consideratio* , : ■ - .