SOLDIERS' PROBLEMS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 144, 21 June 1933, Page 15

SOLDIERS' PROBLEMS

THROUGH UNEMPLOYMENTN.Z.R.S.A. SUGGESTIONS Various remits framed to deal with unemployment and relief questious relating to ex-scrviccuicn.wore carried at th.j annual general meeting of tbe New Zealand Kclurned Soldiers' Association, which vraa continued last oveniiig in the Council Chamber of the Town Uall. General Sir Andrew Kusscll presided over an atter.dauee of 07 delegates. Colonel 11. 1\ Gariibrill.presented the report of the unemployment committee, which, while appreciating tho cousiueratiou which has been given to single es-scrviecuicn with dependants and widowers with children in certain districts, requested the Unemployment Board to make this practice uniform throughout tho Dominion, and not require such men to take-work in camp which necessitates their, absence from home for long periods. Mr. AY. E. Leadley (Christchurch) seconded the committee's recommendation, which was approved. UNEMPLOYMENT. TAX. Tho council decided to protest emphatically against the emergency unomploymonfc tax of Is in tho £ being levied against any moueys of the K.S.A. which are being used to give additional work and sustenance to unemployed ex-servicemen, and also those who aro physically unfit to work on No. 5 scheme. In the course of tho discussion on the remit, Mr. Jacobs (Paluicrston North) expressed the opinion that steps should bo taken to obviate the future payment of this levy. Other speakers thought it should be represented to the Unemployment Board that tho money was not income, but represented the capital of tho association. "That returned soldiers in. receipt of pensions up to 17s 6d per week shall be eligible for tho issuu of rations by the Unemployment Board when no work is available" was a Christchurch remit, which was carried. Tho giving of .work, said Mr. Leadley, was.not penalised by tho drawing of v small. pension, but men out ■. of work were debarred from obtaining rations. INSURANCE. It was decided that headquarters be instructed to make a close investigation of the position of returned soldiers with war disabilities who are on relief. [work and have been required to 6ign a form absolving tho State Accident Insurance Department of any liability in cas'"1 of accident, and to 'take any, steps necessary to safeguard' the illterests of these men. The council was of opinion that such men should be covered by insurance by tho State through the State Office. It was suggested by tho unemployment committee that the matter of art unions for tho relief of unemployment should be referred to headquarters. It was decided, in view of the premature closing of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, to request tho Government to givo preference-to suitable unemployed returned soldiers when selecting applicants for settlement | under the existing or future small farm i schemes. EXPORT GOLD TAX. Tho following remit was, from Duucdia: —"That in view of the largo numbers of soldiers engagod in prospecting for gold, tho Government be urged to exempt from the export tax of 1-s 6'd per ouuco on gold all prospectors working under subsidy from the Unemployment Board, it being the opinion of tbia council that the small amount of gold won. by tkese prospectors after strenuous ; . work in face of many hardships makes the burden of such tax.unduly heavy." The small.amount of gold being won, and tho hardships being experienced by soidier prospectors were emphasised; It was quite possible, it was stated,\th£t gold cost about £10 an ounce to produce, if'all-efforts wcro considered. The remit was carried. ■ . Tho recommendation of : the Unemployment C'ommitteo that the Disabled Soldiers' Civil Kc-establishment League should be incorporated at the earliest possible moment, was carried.