RETURNED SOLDIERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21986, 22 June 1933, Page 9

RETURNED SOLDIERS

DOMINION CONFERENCE ADMINISTRATION OF SETTLEMENT ACT. (Peb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 21. The conditions under which returned soldiers who have taken up farms under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement A6t are living were discussed at the K.S.A. conference, and the recommendations of the Special Committee were approved. These urged: — That the Minister of Lands should again make loans available to enable partly' disabled soldiers to secure small farms in order that their remaining earning capacity may bo fully utilised. That no repossessed property held under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act should be offered to a civilian at a value lower than the amount owing at the time of repossession without giving the mortgagor the first consideration of taking the property at the value to be paid by the civilian, the associations to send to headquarters details of any cases where this principle has not been carried into effect. That in view of the straitened circumstances of many of the unemployed returned soldiers on lands, the Minister be urged to issue instructions to all commissioners of Crown lands that no unemployed returned soldier holding a home under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act shall bo evicted without the fullest inquiry into his position and after consultation with the local R.S.A. A number of provisions were adopted in regard to the procedure to be followed by way of adjustment by the Crown as between a soldier mortgagor and the mortgagees of the land or landlord, as the case may be, and the stock mortgagees. Reference was also made to the position of town dwellers under Government loans, and the following remit was passed;—“ That the Government be requested to reduce not only the interest but the capital charges on properties acquired by ex-servicemen under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act.” Sir George Richardson said the position in regard to returned soldiers who were Crown tenants was very serious, and it might become necessary for the Government to provide hutments or other living quarters for men who were unable to pay the rent and interest charges. The conference reaflirmed that portion of its constitution making it nonpolitical and non-sccretary. A resolution passed by the council last year urging the setting up of a tribunal to inquire into .the monetary and credit system of the Dominion was also affirmed. It was decided to ask that legislation should be amended to provide that the wives or widows, of ex-soldiers be eligible for war pensions whether married before or after disablement, outside or in Now Zealand, and at any time after discharge, subject always to the qualificatioiHffiat tlie ex-soldier is in ft reasonable state of health at the time of marriage. It was decided that the council; should wait on Cabinet to urge that these reforms be sanctioned. A Dunedin remit was approved asking that legislation be enacted enabling the old age pension to he granted to members of the South African and New Zealand expeditionary forces on attaining the age of CO, and that New Zealand Expeditionary Force soldiers be eligible for an extra 5s a week on the same basis as Is paid to South African veterans.

It was resolved that a request be made that suitable accommodation be provided by the State for ex-servicemen whose condition through war service is not sufficiently serious to warrant their committal to a mental hospital. A resolution carried emphatically protesting against any change in the constitution of the War Pensions Board or the Appeal Board along the lines recently suggested by the Auckland Patriotic and Belief Society. It was decided that the minimum price at which poppies should be sold on Poppy Day would be Is. There was a diversity of opinion on the subject, and on a vote being taken the motion was carried by 59 votes to 53. It was also decided that a suitable emblem be devised for Poppy Day for children only, to be issued free through the schools, the headmasters to be asked to distribute these as a gift from the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, and to ask the children to contribute their pennies for the purchase of poppies to make wreaths for Anzac Day. It was also decided that arrangements be made for the co-operation of all education boards.

The following motion by Mr W. Perry was carried —“ That headquarters obtain, from local associations particulars of their organisation for selling poppies with a view to devising a comprehensive scheme of organisation for Poppy Day,” The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Sir Andrew Russell; vice-president, Mr W. Perry; district vice-presidents—Messrs S. P. Day (Auckland), S. Jacobs (Wellington, Nelson, and Palmerston North), H. Fleck (Canterbury and Westland), J. Tait (Otago and Southland) ; hon. treasurer, Mr J. D. Harper (re-elected); •' Dominion General Committee —Messrs R. W. Wise, N. A. Vercoe, A. T. Duncan, E. F. Wilcox, 0. L. Ferens, and C. W. Batten; Dominion Executive Committee—Messrs A. Cowles, H, B. Burdekin, D. Colquboun, D. G. Munro, C. W. Batten, A. T. Duncan, G. T. Hall, J. D. Harper, and Major Brandon (New Zealand South African Veterans’ Association); representative on the New Zealand Expeditionary Force Canteen and Regimental Funds Board, Mr M. Al.dred: Flock House Central Committee—Messrs B. d. Jacobs, A. T. Duncan, and A. Gorton; auditors —Messrs Clarke,. Menzies, Griffin, and Ross; representative on the New Zealand Farmers’ Union Executive. Mr A. T. Duncan,