R.S.A.

Evening Star, Issue 17328, 16 April 1920, Page 7

R.S.A.

The report to be presented at the | fourth annual meeting of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association on Menday evening is a comprehensive document. We make the ..-following extracts: It ie with, pleasure that your committee record the long-deferred accession, of the Government to the demands of the atsoeiation that the increases in the wives and children's separation allowances should be applied with retrospective effect. The fight for this concession has been one of the longest and hardest yet experienced by the association, and jour committee take no small pride in the fact that this association never allowed this matter to drop,-but renewed the contest whenever headquarters flagged in their efforts. With the land settlement question lies perhaps the greatest problem of the Government, and throughout the past year vour committee have devoted much time to the consideration of schemes for the improvement of the conditions under which soldier settlers are laboring. With regard to most of the settlements in our district, your committee find that in some instances the soldiers are laboring under an overburdening rent which occurred thrmgh tho nigh price paid by the Government for the land". It is noticed with satisfaction that legislation has been passed empowering Land Purchase Boards to take over suitable properties at the Government valuation, plus 10 per cent., «nd it is trusted that where_ landholders are demanding too high a price lor their properties the boards will use their power to the advantage of tho returned men. Early in the year a conference of soldier settlers was Jield, at which were representatives from tho Benmore. \Ye3tcott, and Gladbrook Settlements. The Commis-

sioner of Ciown Land* for otai;o was also present. Matters affecting soldier'settlers were discucsed, and several point 3 on which the men were in- doubt were explained by the Commissioner. T,he settlers on their part submitted the points under which they considered they were handicapped, and it is thought that future settlers will benefit as a result. The attention 'of the Minister of Lands was drawn to the apparent- dilatory methods ot his department lri, dealing with the applications for loans for the purchase of properties. It was pointed out by the.Minister tlvit as soon-as a tresh sum of money was voted for this purpose the department would be able to decrease the delay experienced. Of late no complaint- on this score have been received. Your committee approached the Repatriftion Board, inquiring their views regarding the transfer of the housing scheme to the Repatriation Department, and received a favorable reception. The Government, however, refused to sanction ihe transfer. The Minister was also written to pointing out that the various Land Boards were differing in. their administration of the D.S.S. Act, and requesting his ruling on the points where the boards were differing. It has been'definitely laid down by him that, providing the applicant has the necessary experience and a reasonable prospect of making a success in his undertaking, he need not deposit more than the amount of the rent for the first half-year. At the reauest of vour committee the

Minister has atrreed to mnke a tour of the

soldier settlements in Otago. Members will note with satisfaction ihatl this association are now represented on the Otago Lands Purchase Board, Mr J. M'Crae being appointed to the position. At a recent meeting of the Dominion Executive a Lands Committee was appointed; but before this committee could approach the Government it was considered that they should be in possession of up-to-date and reliable data regarding; the demand of ex-soldicrs for "land. To supply this associations and subassociations throughout the Dominion have been circularised requesting that members desiring land furnish the secretaries with particulars concerning the class desired, it is anticipated that by this means the Lands Committee will be able to place before the Government a complete list of the number of men desiring land, thus enabling the Government to throw open the class of land desired. As the Government decided that men who had, rerved in camps as instructors, etc., should be eligible to participate in the benefits of the Act. your executive) urged that men who had seen active ser- • vice in the South African War should also be included. A reply was -received i stating that this matter could not be conI sidered until the demands of the N.Z.E.F. i for lai-d had been .satisfied.

the your executive hive striven to assist the Building Committee cf the new soldiers' clubhouse in obtaining funds for the erection of the building. It is recognised by most returned eoldiers that the club is most desirable' not only as a social institution, but also as an instrument in the successful repatriation of the soldiers, and the want of a club of sufficient accommodation has been keenly felt during the past year. It is with regret, however, that your executive havo to record a lack -of active interest in the campaign for funds throughout the year, and beg to point out that this has oca-ionorl quite a loss of money to the Building Committee. Your executive has from the beginning taken the word "political" in the common usage of the day. and defined it as concerning "party politics." In its opinion the association was, from its inception, and even in its conception, " political," inasmuch aa its objects were to divert the legislation of the country in such 1 manner that returned soldiers should receive their just reward for the perils and hardships which they endured. Otlters have considered that, in order to

become " political," the association should establish a new party or support a. party already established, " and this has been averred by some delegates at recent conferences as the only means of obtaining the just recognition of the rights of the returned men. Your executive have steadily opposed this view, maintaining that, given the support of each individual member of each association in the Dominion, the N.Z.R.S.A. have power enough behind them to demand from any party who may be in power just recognition of their suggestions for the betterment of the conditions of repatriation. During the year a committee of Jimbless men was appointed by the amputee members of the association to undertake the i management of their particular interests. '■■ Since its inception this committee have proved invaluable to the members concerned. Whilst they are so independently demanding the recognition of their justified necessities, your committee trust that all members realise that it is in no .small measure due to the support of the association that the demands of these worthy men are so readily acceded to by the Government.

During the year your executive and the 1 staff have assisted many men. to obtain a, pension or increase in same. The chief matter of contention in the-se cases has been as to whether the disability was due to ot aggravated by war service. Many men who found themselves slightly afflicted with some infirmity did not, whilst with [the Forces, report themselves to the medical staff. These men, in many cases, find that the disability has now become acute, and for the aforementioned reason a'rs experiencing considerable difficulty in obtaining a arrant. Though it hae not been officially stated, your committee have reason to believe that, of the high Cost,of Living, the amount of the maximum pension will shortly be increased. The membership of the Dunedin Association may now be said to its maximum. During the year 3,437 now members were admitted, and the membership at 31st March was 4,495.