CANDID CRITICISM.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 14184, 16 April 1919, Page 5

CANDID CRITICISM.

Soldier Problems. THE GOVERNMENT CONDEMNED. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Last night. Tho Dominion executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, which meet at Wellington at the weekend, discussed many questions of national importance. An official report of tho business done states that the question was raised whether the Association could give its official support to the candidature of returned soldiers in municipal elections. Tho executive resolved that while the Association was of opinion that the returned men, as citizens, should have a keen interest in civic affairs, the Association as an. organisation could not offi-

cially support a particular candidate, as such action would involve the E.S.A. in party politics. MINISTERIAL INERTIA. The Repatriation Department was keenly criticised. The executive recorded disappointment with tho working of the Ministerial Board during tho past three months, and reaffirmed its opinion that one Minister instead of four should have been head of tho Depatmcnt. The Government was censured for the long delay of four years in the establishment of this Department, despite reminders years ago about the need of action. More than two years ago tho R.S.A. had tried in vain to induce the Government to move. It was complained that as one result of this laggard lack of imagination, disabled and partially disabled men were suffering to-day. It was held that the Ministerial Repatriation Board had not yet a proper national, statesmanlike policy of ceonstuction, but was goping for guidance. This criticism exonerated the district Boards and local committees from blame. It was admitted they wore doing their best under tho difficult conditions caused by the inertia of tho central body. CROWDED OUT BY WOMEN.

A resolution, was passed urging the Government to make immediate provision for poultry-keeping, bee-keeping, and other light occupations on land suitable for partially disabled men. It was decided to invite seven farmers noted for their success in various kinds of farming to co-operate with the committee of N.Z.R.S.A. at the Dominion conference next month, in the formulation of a policy for the guidance of the Government. The executive recorded its belief that returned soldiers should not be kept out of employment by the retention of women in positions normally filled by men. At the same time the meeting agreed that any measures necessary in this respect were evidence of the Government’s failure to open np sufficient avenues of employment to assure useful occupation for all willing workers. "EMPLOYERS AT FAULT.

A complaint was made that while some employers were giving fair consideration to returned soldiers, particularly partially disabled men, the proportion of employers were not fulfillling their promises and their attitude showed that they had not the least gratitude for the soldiers’ service overseas. STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS.

It was mentioned that numbers of men had been misled by signing a certificate issued by the Defence Department, in which the soldiers before discharge stated that they were not suffering any disability due to the war. After discharge, some of these men found they were not as free from war effects as they had imagined, but they had the impression that they had signed away their pension rights. Mr J. D. Harper, R.S.A. representative on the Pensions’ Board, said that it had been laid down as a principle that the soldier had a right to claim a pension at any time within seven years after his discharge, and that such rights were not discounted in any way by the signing of any statement. Mr Harper also stated that arrangements wcre_ in progress to minimise delays following applications for pensions, as the result of the rapid return of large numbers of men.

It was decided to obtain the opinion of the N.Z.R.S.A. solicitor on the action of tlio Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon. G. W. Russell, in preventing the Trustees of the remainder of the Countess of Liverpool fund at Christchurch from making a grant of £3OOO towards the establishment of a Returned Soldiers’ Club in that city.

The executive resolved that it could not support the Dominion Trentham Art Union scheme to provide scholarships for soldiers’ children. The meeting recorded its opinion that it was the duty of the Government to provide special'.education facilities for every child whose father had lost his life in the war. Members declared that the Government had too great a tendency to allow its responsibilities to be taken over by patriotic societies or other organisations of citizens. It was decided to congratulate the Government on the of war bursaries for ret aimed soldiers, with the money hold by the National War Fund’s Council. It was agreed that this fiction was the proper use of such a national fund. The executive reaffirmed the resolution that sentences passed on conscientious objectors and other military defaulters sholud bo served in full.