N.Z.R.S.A.

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11454, 26 February 1923, Page 8

N.Z.R.S.A.

DOMINION EXECUTIVE IMPORTANT MATTERS DISCUSSED AT CONFERENCE. HELPING THE RETURNED MEN. A conference of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association was opened at the Association's headquarters, Customhouse Quay, Wellington, yesterday morning, Major-General Sir Andrew Russell presiding. The other members present were Messrs D. S. Smith (vice-president), W. Perry, It. B. Bell (Canterbury), N. A. Verroo (Nelson and Marlborough), J. D. Harper (hon. treasurer), Col. T. W. Macdonald), L. S. Graham (Otago), A. Fair (Executive Standing Sub-Com-mittee and Wellington), W. E. Leadley (Canterbury), and Thomas Long (Auckland). Mr J. D. Forbes (President Otago R.S.A.) was present by courtesy. The resignation of Mr Noel S. Johnson (Exeoutive Stahding Sub-Com-mittee) was accepted with regret, and a resolution was placed on record expressing appreciation of his valuable services to the Association, particularly in connection with the interests cf limbless soldiers. Mr Ashley Duncan was appointed as his successor. PENSIONS COMMISSION PUBLICATION PRESSED FOR. On the motion of Colonel Macdonald the following resolution was unanimously passed; “That urgent representations be made • to the. Government, re the immediate publication of the Pension Commission’s, report, and the introduction next session of legislation to give immediate effect to the. recommendation of the War Commission’s Report.” If, said Colonel Macdonald, there was one thing that would kill the R.S.A., it was the non-publication ot this report, and he strongly urged that the association ought to press for its publication. SOLDIERS’ BREAKDOWN QUESTION OiF APPEAL BOARD. The consideration of the remit from the Canterbury District: “That, in view of the fact that there are a large number of returned soldiers who have broken down as the result of their war disabilities, and who have obtained medical certificates to this effect, but have been declined medical treatment and pensions by tho Government, this association urges that a Medical Appeal Board, consisting of a Magistrate, as chairman, and two medical officers, one nominated by the department, and one by tho R.S.A.. should be appointed immediately to adjudicate on all such cases,” was deferred to next meeting of the executive. This step was taken in view of the statement by the Prime Minister last session, in reply to a question by Mr "W. A. Veitch, M.P., that an appeal hoard is to he set up, and pending the publication of the Pensions Commission’s report. NEURASTHENIC CASES. A discussion in regard to the treatment of neurasthenics took place on a motion by Mr Leadley: “That a sub-committee of the executive— Messrs Long, Fair, Bell, Colonel Macdonald, and the mover —should wait upon the War Pensions Board, to discuss with it the question of the treatment of neurasthenic cases and report to the executive later.” Mr Leadley contended that if tho department had once accepted a soldier as a neurasthenic case due to war service, and Be broke down again after being discharged “cured,” tho very fact of his again becoming neurasthenic should be taken as sufficient proof that his condition was due to war service. The present position was that, once a man had Been discharged as cured, the board washed its hands of him and he had come across some heart-breaking cases. The association had in this matter to consider the interests, not only of the man himself, hut also of his dependents. Mr Harper said that the medical experts advised that the very best treatment for neurasthenics was no treatment at all; that they should be allowed to stand on their own feet, with no treatment and no pensions, so that they would feel the necessity for getting a grip on themselves. The board had found this Tticthod work out well. When a man waß discharged cured, the hoard allowed him a small pension for ten months, and no longer.

Mr Leadley: But what about the men who break down afterwards? They should he the responsibility of tho department, he maintained.’ The Resolution was cai'rfied nem. con. MILK CHEQUE DEDUCTIONS CONSIDERED TOO HIGH. On the question of milk cheque deductions, Mr Long and Mr Leadley urged that deductions of 50 per cent, from milk cheques by the Lands Do partment were much too 'high, and that such deductions should bo limited to 25 per cent. Mr Leadley stated that hundreds of men and their families were living in abject poverty as a result of the system, and that if it was continued very many of them would he forced to walk off the land. Mr Bell moved that, tho districts be asked to supply specific , concrete cases of undue hardship due *to these deductions. Mr Leadley moved, as an amendment, that the executive make further representations to the Minister fpr Lands, urging that the deductions from the milk cheques of farmers engaged solely in dairy farming he limited to 25 per (Tent. The chairman ruled that this was

net- an amendment to the resolution, hut a re-affirmation of a previous conference resolution. He assured the executive that immediate steps would be taken in that direction. Mr Leadley objected to the words “unless in exceptional cases” in the conference resolution, and gave notice of motion to amend the same. Mr Bell’s motion was carried. RATING SOLDIER SIETTLERS SOME “PRACTICALLY STARVING.” It was reported that, in reply to the protest of th© executive against soldier settlers being rated on higher valuations than other farmers on similar land alongside, the Minister for Lands had stated that the county councils concerned could not do otherwise than take the valuations that appeared on the valuation rolls. Colonel Macdonald cited the case of settlers in Waitemata county, whom Mr Cawkwell (clerk to the County Council) had stated were unable to pay rent, let alone rates, and were practically starving; yet they were rated on higher valuations than other farmers “just over the fence.” He moved that the matter be referred to the Farmers’ Union for its opinion. The Farmers’ Union could greatly help the soldier settlers on this question The resolution was carried unanimously. It was decided that further pressure be brought upon the Government to urge the great need for further irrigation of Grown lands. ADVISORY COMMITTEES REPORTS FROM CENTRES. With reference to the suggestion that district advisory committees of finances should he set up to assist soldier settlei’6, the following reports were received: Auckland: Committees hare been set up in the various farming districts, and a number of men have availed themselves of the advice given. Canterbury: No committees yet appointed. Difficult to get the farmers to act and pay their own travelling expenses. Wellington: Committee of prominent farmers appointed in Wanganui district to act in an advisory capacity. Otago: Did not think scheme would meet with favour, as soldier-settlers could gain much the same benefit by joining the local branches of the Farmers’ Union. OFFERS OF PURE-BRED STOCK.

The offers received by the secretary in response to a’ circular sent out to owners of pure-bred stock were summarised by the secretary as under: —Letters to breeders, 35; replies, 8 ; stock donated, 5 two-year-old Friesian bills, 25 guineas; 1 shorthorn bull, 25 guineas or terms; inquiries from soldier-settlers, 5; stock sold, one to Mr Meikle, of Canterbury. The president’s circular sent to 95 breeders brought 15 replies, and the stock donated was three shorthorn bulls and three Ayrshire bulls. The Department of Agriculture would donate a bull calf; and Mr A. Vickers (Blenheim) had also promised to help with pure-hred Berkshire pigs, if three or more soldiers purchased at half-prices a pure-hred sow, by giving gratis a pure-bred boaT. The chairman said that it was difficult to judge of the results so early; but he believed that, later in the season, considerable advantage would be taken of the scheme. The executive resolved to support the president’s scheme, to thank the breeders who had consented to place stock at' the disposal of soldier-settlers, and to do all that was necessary to make the scheme a success. KING’S NATIONAL ROLL SUGGESTED FOR THE DOMINION. The secretary stated that he had received from various branches letters recommending the establishment of a King’s national roll in the Dominion. Mr Cox (Auckland) stated that the idea was to put on this roll the names of all employers who had taken into tbeir service disabled active-service men; and that a certificate and special device for their letter paper should be issued to all those on the roll. The suggestion was referred to a sub-committee to he moulded into a shape suitable for Dominion conditions, after which the matter is to be submitted to the Government. Should the sub-committee he unable to decide on a suitable scheme, it is to report to the next meeting of the executive. SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS AND D.S.S. ACT. The Minister for Lands (the Hon. D. H. Guthrie) wrote stating that, owing to the financial stringency, it was impossible to apply the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Acs to South African veterans, especially as a number of men who had served in the Great War had not yet been dealt with. The secretary was instructed to forward the reply to those concerned: FREE TREES FOR SOLDIERS. Advice was received from the Minister for Lands that arrangements had been made with the Forestry Department for the supply of a limited number of trees to soldier settlers. HOUSES FOR SOLDIERS . AND D.S.S. FUND. Replying to a letter from the association, the Minister for Lands wrote that at present there was no restriction on a discharged soldier applying for a loan to finance land purchase and the erection of a house, but the final granting of loans depended upon the position of the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Fund. Since the general stoppage of loans, authorised in November, 1921, the sum of £382,356 had been granted to 447 returned soldiers for land and dwellings. Several mfetnbers stressed the need for more favourable treatment of returned soldiers requiring houses, and on the motion of Mr Leadiey, seconded by Mi Bell, it was resolved that the standing sub-committee should make representations to the Government at the earliest opportunity to urge the imperative necessity for providing further finance for building dwellings for soldiers under the D.S.S. Act. REPATRIATION ACT CONTINUATION FOR A YEAR URGED. The executive resolved to ask the Government to continue the Repatriation Act in operation for another year. A motion was also passed expressing the thanks of the association to the members of the Repatriation Boards, “than whom no body of men had rendered greater service to returned soldiers.”

EMPIRE SERVICE LEAGUE

ASSOCIATION’S DELEGATE. The executive, after some discussion, resolved to ask Sir Andrew Russell to represent the N.Z.R.S.A. at the forthcoming meeting of the British Empire Service League, if he should he visiting England at the time. In the event of his being unable to go Home, the sub-committee was empowered to appoint another representative.

CENERAL SECRETARY MR S. J. HARRISON APPOINTED. The executive confirmed the action of the sub-committee in appointing Mr S. J. Harrison secretary, his salary to he increased to £4OO as from the Ist of March. next. GENERAL MATTERS CASE OF DR. YEATES. The case of Dr. Yeates (formerly a medical officer in the N.Z.E.F.) was considered at some lengtn, and the executive decided to recommend that, in accordance with bis request, it should be heard before a judge of the Supreme Court. CLAIMS FOR DIFFERENCE IN PAY. The following resolution from the Canterbury district was carried unanimously, on the motion of Mr Leadiey: “This association views with dissatisfaction the decision of the Minister for Defence, in declining to receive applications for difference between New Zealand and Imperial rates of pay, gratuity, etc., from New Zealanders who served with the Imperial Forces, awl who were out of the Dominion on March 31st, 1921, or from men who for other reasons did not forward their applications before the date specified. It notes with regret that the Minister has not recognised the justice of these claims, and now urges that the matter should be brought before Cabinet at an early date.” Mr Perry, supporting the resolution, stated that a number of men who were entitled to claim were out of New Zealand at the date when the period for receiving the claims came to a close. One glaring case was that of a man who was fighting at the time in His majesty's Forces in Mesopotamia; and others who were engaged in relief work in Russia. AVIATION. A lengthy discussion took place on the question of aviation, and it was resolved :—“That a letter he sent to the Minister for Defence stating (1) that the Dominion executive of the New Zealand R.S.A., while appreciating the value of the increased provision being made for the encouragement of aviation, strongly urges the Government to give further consideration to the important place of aviation in the defence system of New Zealand, and to make still further provision for the full training of pilots, observers, and mechanics ; (2) and that copies of the resolution he forwarded to kindred organisations with a request for their co-opera-tion and support.”