RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 175, 24 June 1935, Page 10

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

ASSOCIATION’S PROGRESS.

PAST YEAR’S WORK

Interest in matters affecting returned soldiers has increased during the past year and there has been increased activities in association work. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association increased its strength by adding three now associations to the seventy-eight previously operating throughout the Dominion, and the membership of associations increased by 2811, bringing the grand total for New Zealand up to 24,451 at March 31, and tins has since increased further. The Dominion executive of the association has been active during the year in furthering the interests of returned men, and its activities are reviewed in a report presented to the annual conference of delegates last week. “The Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment League is now well established and doing useful work for disabled returned soldiers,” the report states. “The league has appointed a senior employment officer, whose duty it is to survey the movement, co-ordinate and co-operate the various schemes. “The committee was instrumental in arranging, through the Minister of Internal Affairs, for the sale and proceeds of the reproductions of W. Longstaff’s picture ‘Carillon,’ to be devoted to the league. PENSIONS AND TREATMENT. “In August, 1934, the Government, in its Budget, provided for relief in taxation and increases for public servants and old age pensioners, and the committee, after due consideration, communicated with the Minister of Pensions, expressing the satisfaction of the New Zealnad Returned Soldiers’ Association regarding the restoration of portion of the old age pension, but strongly emphasising the fact that in the opinion of the N.Z.R.S.A. one of tlie first sections for consideration when restoration was shown to be possible, should have been the dependants of the ex-servicemen who gave their lives and health for King and country.

“The Minister replied stating that the Government, in deciding to grant some relief to pensioners, had to be guided by the finances available and the circumstances of the particular class of pensioners affected; it was felt that the first consideration should he given to the old people in their declining years. He pointed out further that, whereas all the old age pensioners suffered a reduction in pension rate under the provisions of the National Expenditure Adjustment •• Acb, 19,32. less than one-third of war pensioners were so affected. “The question of delay m the hearing of appeal eases was also investigated, and the Minister advised that arrangements had been made for Auckland sittings to he confined to eight weeks and for the southern sittings to he similarly limited in the aggregate. If this arrangement did not effect improvement further steps would be taken to expedite matters. The committee lias had no complaints since this arrangement has been made. LAND SETTLEMENT. “The soldier settlers have, in keeping with the other farmers of the Dominion, had a most difficult ye^rwas pleasing to learn in August, 1904, that a reduction to 5 per cent, had been approved in the rate of interest, on current account advnnces, in those cases where the rate exceeds o per cent, from October 1. 1935. “The main points in the reply of the Minister of lands to our resolutions were his references to the proposals set out in the Budget for reorganisation of mortgage finance on a national basis under the control of a board and the committee hopes that it will he possible to bring before the Dominion Council details of these proposals.”