R.S.A. INDIGNANT

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3175, 28 September 1942, Page 5

R.S.A. INDIGNANT

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT STATEMENT QUESTIONED \ • SUPPOSED APPROVAL OF ASSN. “This statement is contrary to fact,” stated the chairman of the Te Awamutu Returned Services’ Association, Mr C. O. Edmonds, drawing th.e attention of the executive to a statement by Mr J. Thorn, M.P., made at Te Aroha with reference to the settlement of returned soldiers on the land. Mr Thorn was reported to have said: “I am not able to quote the legislation relating to land for servicemen chapter and verse, but I understand that it had the # wholehearted blessing of the Returned Services Association.”

Mr Edmonds said that the land policy of the N.Z.R.S.A. was laid down by the conference in November, 1941, and had not been altered. At ' the conclusion of the conference a delegation, headed by the Hon. W. Perry, had waited on the Prime Minister and his colleagues, and stated definitely the aims of the N.Z.R.S.A. so far as rehabilitation and land settlement were concerned.

Right To Acquire Freehold

The delegation urged that the right to acquire the freehold to his* land be granted to the soldier settler, and that local committees be set up in each district to advise on' the suitability of the land for settlement, and also as value of the land. These were only two of the requests that had been consistently refused by the Government, and all returned men took the strongest exception to statements such as that attributed to Mr Thorn.

A long discussion followed and members expressed their indignation that members of Parliament were constantly stating publicly that the R.S.A. was satisfied with the rehabilitation policy of the Government, It was unanimously decided to recommend Dominion headquarters to give the widest possible publicity to the land settlement and rehabilitation policy of the R.S.A. A meeting of delegates from associations in the Waikato and Thames Valley . districts is being held in Hamilton next Wednesday.