RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 21

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

CONFERENCE IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND. June 8. The dominion conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association was continued to-day. Ine conference adopted a recommendation by the Land Committee that as a general principle in the farming polic- the following points bo emphasised:—That- soldier settlers have undertaken obligations to the country and are now asking concessions. We therefore consider as a first and guiding principle that every soldier settler is morally bound to make an earnest endeavour to carry out these obligations to the very best of his ability, so that the highest confidence may exist between the soldier settler and his common landlord, (he Crown; that by so doing the interests of the State and. therefore, the general public arc being conserved as far as they possibly can. lie appreciate the fact that the Government lias now recognised the desirability of giving effect to the recommendations of 1 tie Returned Soldiers’ Association, tut would stiesa the necessity of expediting and giving- effect to the Land Revision Committee’s report.

The conference then considered remits, that advocating an increase in the amount of the advance to soldiers 011 titii, gorse, or blackberry lands from £750 to £IOOO being adopted. The conference reaffirmed the request for a revaluation of soldier settler land when this course is shown to bo necessary by the Land Revision Board.

The conference approved of the suggestion that the number of the members of the Juand Boards elected by Crown tenants be increased from one to two in view of the increase in the number of such tenants. It was decided to ask the Government to institute such legislation as may be advisable to protect returned soldiers from hardships at the expiration of the moratorium in cases where the properties have been purchased without Government assistance. In view of the fact that there is a number of discharged soldiers still to be repatriated, and that extensive schemes are likely to be mooted in the near future for the settlement of Imperial immigrants, the conference adopted a remit by the Canterbury Association to the effect that the Government be urged that where pastoral leases, etc., become available through the expiration of the leases, the land be thrown open for selection by discharged New Zealand soldiers under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act.

A matter of considerable importance to returned soldiers which has not received much public attention was considered by the conference. This referred to the Lands Department's policy of in some instances loading the houses vacated by returned soldiers with the arrears of interest and the costs of the previous " owners when offering the dwellings to other soldier applicants. A remit protesting against this policy and expressing the opinion that a revaluation of such dwellings on present-day values should be made was put forward. It was mentioned that it sometimes happened that a soldier found that he could not keep up the payments on a house and surrendered it. The accumulated arrears of interest wilh the legal costs were added to the capital value, and this added to the fact that in many cases the building had cost a great deal more than would be the case were the dwelling erected now, made it too expensive for another soldier to take over. One southern delegate mentioned that in his district there were four such houses on the hands of ihe department, and the local association had been informed that until these dwellings were applied for and taken over the ussocia tion could not expect to receive further grants for houses. The opinion was generally expressed that the State should bear the loss revealed by a revaluation and the writing off of accrued liabilities. The remit was adopted. June 9.

The Returned Soldiers’ Conference received the following message from Earl Haig: “It is a pleasure for me to be able to greet my New- Zealand comrades, and, as grand president of the British Empire Soldiers’ League, to send them my best wishes; and in doing so I feel I may speak for all their comrades, not only in the Old Country, but throughout the dominions and the colonies ot the Empire. Comradeship and the spirit of self-sacrifice, which was such a great factor in bringing the war to a successful issue, is the basis on which the future success of all ex-ser-vice associations must rest. I, therefore, appeal to all ex-service men to stick together. to join their loyal association, and to insist upon it becoming a member of the 8.8. L.; because it is only by united action that those who are strong and happy and in good circumstances, can help their less fortunate comrades. (Signed) Haig of Bemersyde.” It was decided that an effort lx> made to increase the membership of the various districts, and to confer with this object. The afternoon session was devoted to consideration of the annual report, which dealt with many subjects which will also be brought forward in the form of remits. It was decided that tho Government be again urged to find suitable positions for all disabled unemployed men, whose names and particulars have been submitted by the ’association. It was thought that the matter should be made one of great urgency on account of the serious position in which these men now found themselves. The Unemployment Committee, which submitted the recommendations that were adopted, was of opinion that private employers were not prepared to find employment for disabled men. As the pension was inadequate, it devolved upon the Government to supplement it v\ith suitable employment, to bring the pensioners’ income up to the average standard. It was also decided to make urgent representations to the Public Works Department, the Forestry Department, and local bodies throughout the dominion with a view to commencing immediately all necessary public works, and giving preference of employment to returned soldiers. The council held the opinion that Imperial immigration was the best safeguard for the policy of a “white” New Zealand for the future defence of the dominion, and for continued progress and development. Immigration should at all times be governed by tho country’s capacity to absorb such immigrants. The conference therefore urged the Government (a) To bring down a progressive land policy providing for the immediate development of all unoccupied lands, other than those set apart for forestry, whether owned by Crown or by

private individuals, such lands to be made available for closer settlement, (b) To endeavour to obtain from the Imperial Government a grant of sufficient funds for the training and settlement of tx-Imperial soldiers. 1 ne chairman ruled out of order a motion on behalf of the Immigration Committee that the conference recommend tiie Dominion Association to take steps to establish a new settlers’ league for the assistance of immigrants on arrival here. The conference strongly urged the Government to take more stringent measures against continued drastic immigration. , P . r June 10. ihe conference adopted an Otago remit urging the Government to obtain Spahfinger serum for the T.B. patients It was resolved that the establishment of a War I elisions Appeal Board was urgently necessary. ° t lt l) Wi l s also decided lo arrange a meeting of J arha.mentarians and address .hem on he desirability of the publication of tho "me 1 ensions Commission’s report The incoming executive was recommended to make strong representations to ihe department for more sympathetic condderanon to nerve and T.B. cases, when applications were made for pensions some time alter discharge.

It was resolved to make a strong protest against any change in the observance of Anzac Day.

It was decided that the Government ho requested to establish a half-way house tor borderline mental cases generally, and for t.ie periodical examination of soldierpatients m mental hospilals by specialists not attached to any particular mental hospital if considered necessary, and it was resolved to apply to the department for such specialist. Efforts are to be made witli a view to seeing that the district secretary °; r . ? al . associations be appointed to at* official visiting committee.

The conference to-day adooted the report of the f an teen and War' Funds Comn f l /u°v an< that the conference is °r !u opinion that the present corpus of the Canteen Fund, which now £156,003. should be conserved, and a further fund should be allowed to accumulate at compound interest, until it reaches £290.000 tor tile following reasons: •

(1) hat there are sufficient sources of relief to meet current needs, and if tho fund is made available now there is sonm Ganger of the Government, and the trustees of I\ ar Relief Funds, shirking immediate responsibilities. (2) That public opinion is still a factor in determining the action of the Government. and various bodies which dispense relief. 1 (3) That if any portion of the fund were made available now it would tend to create a desire to j.articipate in the fma! disposal of the aggregate sum. W (a) ihat a study of conditions during the attenuates ot the previous wars show* a gradual L»ut steady decline in public sympatny and interest in the sufferers in such wars; (b) there never has been a war in history in which as a consequence sufferers are likely to experience a greater measure of disability in their declining years, seeing that their systems have been subjected to greater shock and upset; (c) that history shows that in their deelinmg years even men who weie fit and well have not had such provision made for their care as their services to their country would warrant.

(0) That a very large percentage of U e ' v Zealand ex service men suffering disabilities, are at present capable of supplementing their pensions, whereas as they decline in years it is probable their econonne capacity will decline proportionately. (6) That a body such as the Returned SoldioiVs Association must maintain a clear vision covering the future as well as a proper appreciation of the present. The committee recommended that a Canterbury remit be passed in the following form. The tne C-cinteeu and Regimentul 1 1 ust Lund lioard b-e urged to adopt an a principle of i>oiicy that tne corpus of tho lund be invested tor a period not exceeding at most 15 years from the date of tho signing of the Armistice.” In addition tho committee recommended and adopted a Canterbury remit as follows: “ihat in view of the considerable interest held in the Canteen Funds by discharged soldiers publicity be given to thg activities of tho Canteen Funds Beards.”

The follow ing recommendations were also adopted: “That the council directs tho standing sub-committee to approach the War Funds Council with the object of securing financial assistance for the relief of distress among returned soldiers and their dependents whose cases have not been accepted by tho Defence Department, or with special reference to returned soldiers receiving treatment for tubercular disease in civil sanatoria.”

The War Funds Committee recommended that the Government be urged to appoint in addition to Mr Leadley (as promised) a second representative of the association on the National War Funds Council to bo nominated by the executive adopted.