SOLDIERS' PROBLEMS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19699, 3 August 1938, Page 13

SOLDIERS' PROBLEMS

MORTGAGE POSITION APATHY OF BRANCHES Regret at the lack of interest shown in the work of the New Zealand heturned Soldiers' Association in connection with the operation of the .Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Act, was expressed in the annual report of the association presented to the Dominion conference. "During the year, the commissions under the Act have been proceeding with their task and a great many soldier settlers have taken advantage of the legislation," stated the report. The committee would mention that the apparent apathy of local associations in connection with this most important phase of the work of the N.Z. fi.S.A. is most regrettable; only 31 local associations have replied to the request for data concerning soldier settlers and their problems." The report stated that, at the last Dominion Council meeting, a special lands committee was set up to report upon a definite returned soldiers' land policy to be submitted to individual associations for consideration and thereafter to the Dominion Council. The committee had been engaged in this work throughout the year. Data regarding returned soldiers and tneir Handicaps and burdens had been gathered by means of articles in tiie N.Z.R.S.A. Review and by means of circulars to local associations. This information had been carefully collated and sifted and submitted by a sub-committee consisting of Messrs. H. J. Jacobs, R. F. Gambrill, and P. H. G. Bennett, to all members of the special lands committee for comment. From these comments it was hoped that the subcommittee would be able to draft a policy for circulation to other members of the special lands committee. If the policy was considered satisfactory it could then be circularised to all associations prior to the annual meeting of the Dominion Council,