REPATRIATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLV, Issue 10431, 8 November 1919, Page 8

REPATRIATION

R.S.A. CRITICISM

MINISTER SETS OUT BOARD'S POLICY.

In August last a deputation from the New Zealand executivo waited upon members of Cabinet in reference to re. putriul'iou ail'air's, and a full reply was promised to the U.S.A. requests. At a recent meeting of the Dominion executive of the N.Ii.li.S.A. a resolution was passed commenting upon Ui6 delay of the Ministers concerned in dealing with i the points raised, and lengthy corres. pondence has since passed between <ft» R.S.A. and the chairman of tho Hepalliation Board. In the course of bis reply, the lion. W. 11. Herries denied that the R.S.A.. executive had been ignored, explaining that tho matters referred to had required time for consideration and necessary inquiries. The letter sets om the board's replies to the vurious questions raised as follows: (1) The board is of opinion that direct action to terminate the employment of women who have taken up appointments during the war is not nccc». sary, desirable- or practicable. The experience of tho oificers of tho Repatriation Department all goes to show that on the whole employers in the Domui. ion are honourably fulfilling their obligations with respect to their soldier employees. All Government departments are giving preference of employment to discharged soldiers wherever possible. (2) Tho board, after full inquiry, does not consider it necessary or desirablo to increase the unemployment susten. afice allowance as suggested. It has to be clearly remembered that this is a sustenance grant during unemployment only and is in no sense a wage. Hero, again, experience has shown that there is very little recourso to this form of financial assistance. (8) The board is unable to recommend tho Government to increase the maximum of loan for business purposes to wEoCO. I would point out that this assistance is intended to help with small businesses. It is obviously impossible for the department to finance large concerns. Already the board has approved of loans to 1890 discharged soldiers, aggregating an advance of JE427.824. An examination of these loans shows that between 65 per cent, and 70 per cent, of them are for less than the present maximum of .£3OO, thus showing that in the majority of cases tho pre sent maximum is sufficient for the so., diers' requirements. I think your association will agree that if the limit was raised to .ESOO the latter amount would still be inadequate in some cases, and that other arrangements for extra finance would still nave to be made. In view of the heavy financial risk involved in these advances there must be some limit, and the board thinks, and experience proves, that the present maximum is a fair and reasonable one. 1 may point out that Australia is the only other country that makes provision for loans for businesses for discharged soldiers and that its maximum advance is in ordinary oases and .£250 in special cases. (4) The request that all applications for the purchase of urban and suburban properties should be d ea ft; with by tho Repatriation Department has been referred for the consideration of the Hon. Minister for Lands, who desires to take the fullest advantage of the organisation of the Repatriation Department in connection with the purchase of dwellings for soldiers. (5) The board is of opinion, as the result of its inquiries and of the experience of the department, that the present loan of .£SO free of interest for the purchase of furniture is sufficient to meet the urgent needs of soldiers. (6) The hoard has already approved of sustenances being paid to any dependant of a soldier who had established prewar dependency and thus qualified for and received a separation allowance payable hv tho Defence Department to soldiers during service with tho N.Z.E.F. By an amendment introduced this session into the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Amendment Bill, which has now passed both Houses of Parliament the term "discharged soldier" in the Repatriation Act has been extended to include the widowed mother of a deceased soldier. (7) In view of the experience of the last nino months the board sees no reason whatever to recommend anv change in the present system of control of the Repatriation Department. On the contrary the undoubted success of the administration is a strong argument in favour of continuing the present control. You are no doubt aware that two returned soldiers are now members of the Ministerial Board of Control. THE ASSOCIATION'S E-EJOINDEE.

To the foregoing statement the general secretary of the Returned Soldiers' Association (Mr D. Seymour) replied:— (1) Women in Lmployment —'lhe Association never intended, unless forced to do so. to ask women to leave their employment. The matter is not pressed at prosent. . ' (2) Sustenanco Grant.—The fact that this grant is seldom required surely is an additional argument that when required it should be adequate. (3) Increase of Business Loan—We note the fact that .some .£427.824 has been advanced for this purpose. There is of course a heavy financial risk involved but our representatives on the various boards assure u» that very few losses are being made, and that in the great majority of cases interest and principal is being repaid. Cases are reported to my Association where the eoldiers are paying very heavy interest on the extra money required. It is the desire of mv Association that this advance should be a special one. entirely at the discretion of the board. With regard to the expenditure involved, it was with Mich expenditure in view that my Association has made no demands in the matter of graU (4/Furniture Allowance.—Tho Association's experience is different from that of the Department in the matter of furniture allowance. Probably the Department has not been .asked lot more becauss soldiers know that the regulations limit the amount to XoO. _ (5) Soldiers' Dependents.—The Association is glad to note that dependents are considered in tho matter of sustenance, and a!.-*>.that provision has been made for widowed mothers. _ (6) Control—The Association wishes to make it clear that it recognises that the administration has been very successful and tho confidence of the Association in the Department has been shown in many ways. However, a more careful perusal of tho reasons for a central board of exports (apart from tho quostion of Ministerial control) would show that what the Association desired was a comprehensive reconstruction policy. The returned soldier is prepared to:work out his destiny, but the country should as far as possiblo provide opportunity for him. My / ssociation feels that little or no opportunity is offering for tho great mass of men who cannot go on tho land f.nd who rre not able to start in business. 'The Hon Department is not creating opportunities. It merely looks for employment, and however efficient the mnolrnnrv for this may bo, it will not make ortf-nimr* where nnn* exist.