RETURNED SOLDIERS' GRIEVANCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3397, 23 April 1919, Page 47

RETURNED SOLDIERS' GRIEVANCES.

A FORMIDABLE CATEGORY.

FRAMED BY R.S.A, EXECUTIVE.

(P«a U*it«d Paws Associatioh.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 15.

The Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, which met in Wellington at the week-end, discussed many questions of national importance. Tho official report of the business done is as follows:

Tho question was raised whether the association oould give its official support to the candidature of returned soldiers in municipal elections. Tho executive resolved that, while the association was of opinion that returned men, as citizens, should take _ a keen interest in civic affairs, the association as an organisation could not officially support any particular candidato, as such action would involve the R.S.A. in party politics. The Repatriation Department was keenly criticised. The executive recorded its disappointment with the working 6f tho Ministerial Board during the_ past three months, and reaffirmed its opinion that one Minister,. instead of four, should have been the head of the department. Tho 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 the R.S.A. 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 but was groping for guidance. This criticism exonerated district boards and local committees from blame. It was admitted that they were doing their best under the difficult conditions caused by tho inertia of the central body. A resolution was passsd urging the Government to make immediate provision for poultry-keeping, bee-keeping ? and other comparatively light occupations' on land suitable for partially disabled men. It was decided to invite seven farmexß noted for their success in various kinds of farming to co-operate with the committee of tho Now Zealand R.S.A. of tho Dominion Conference next month in formulating a policy for the guidance of the Government. The executive recorded its belief that returned soldiers should not be kept out of employment by tho retention of women in positions formerly filled by men. At the samo time, the meeting agreed that any measures necessary in this respect were evidence of the Government's failure to open up sufficient avenues of employment to assure useful occupation for all willing workers —men and women. Complaint was made that, while some employers were giving fair consideration to returned soldiers, and particularly partially disabled men ,a proportion of employers were not fulfilling their promises, and their attitude showed that they had not the least gratitude for the soldiers' services overseas. 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 from any disability due to the war. After discharge some of these men found that 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 Bead) said it had been laid down as a principle that a soldier had the 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 were in progress to minimise the delays following applications for pensions as a result of the rapid return of largo numbers of men. It was decided to obtain the opinion of the N.Z.R.S.A. solicitor on the action of the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Russell) in preventing the trustees of the remainder of the Countess of Liverpool Fund at Ohristchurch from making a grant of £3OOO towards establishing a Returned Soldiers' Club in that city. The executive resolved that it could not support the dominion (Trentham) art union scheme to provide a scholarship for soldiers' children. The meeting recorded its opinion that_ it was the duty of the Government to provide special educational facilities for every child whoso 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 establishment of war bursaries for returned soldiers with money held by the National War Funds Council. It was agreed that this action was a proper use of such a national fund. The executive reaffirmed a resolution that tho sentences passed on conscientious objectors and other military defaulters should bo served in full. MEETING OF AUCKLAND BRANCH. PROPOSED POLITICAL PLATFORM. AUCKLAND, April 15. At a general meeting of the Auckland branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association to-night, attended by 550 members, a political platform submitted by a- special committeo was adopted for submission to the New Zealand Conference as a remit. The main features of tho platform are: —: (1) That immediate steps bo taken to fit all limbless men with artificial limbs. (2) Absolute preference by Government to returned soldiers. That all military appointments be filled by active service men. That legislation bo _ passed compelling private employers to reinstate returned men, and that no alien bo employed to the detriment of returned men. (3) Affirmation of the principle of equal pay for equal work. (4) Various suggestions regarding land settlement, including the following: That tho. Government set aside blocks of unimproved land, subdivided into suitable areas, allocate them to intending occupiers, and retain an area to be improved by occupiers of other sections under the supervision of an instructor appointed by the district land board. While employed on improving Government seoiions men to be paid the

current rate of -wages. Instructors to re* port to the district land board as to whether or not a man is likely to become a successful settler.

The platform also dealt_ with pensions, financial assistance. Asiatic immigration, ana enemy aliens. The committee stated that its recommendations were baaed primarily on the hypothesis that the most important national business of the moment is the satisfactory settlement of matters affecting returned men as outlined in tho platform immediately. When different aspirants for political honours come out they should be presented by a deputation with a copy of our platform and asked if they will support in in the event of their election.Should the answer be- in tho affirmative, then, "not necessarily for publication but as a guarantee of good faith," tho can* didate will be asked to give answers in writing to the three questions following—namely, "Do you consider the immediate settlement of the questions of satisfactory repatriation, the just settlement "of matter! relating to pay, pensions, and allowances and the adequate adjustment of returnea soldiers' grievances as the most important matters now before the country?" Having examined the political platform put forward on behalf of returned soldiers by their association, will you pledge yourself to support it in the event of your being elected? In t the event of a vote of nc-confidenpe being moved on acount of the Government'* refusal to the above or their failure io carry out their pledge after having given an assurance, will you vote against the Government?