RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11928, 23 October 1919, Page 2

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

MINISTERS’ REPLIES TO DEPUTATION. Per Press Association. Wellington, Oct. 22. A deputation from the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Conference waited on members of Parliament this morning. Sir F. W. Lang, in the temporary absence of Mr Massey, was in the chair. The deputation presented the [demands arrived at by the conference regarding laud, repatriation and allowances. The speakers were the president, Boxer, Long, Mitchell, Colquhouu and Seadley. The Hon. D, H. Guthrie, replying, said the question of quicker administration of the policy; of settlement had not been neglected. A soldier who wished to inspect a section need be under no expense, because his expense would be paid. The country must take a risk in settling a soldier on the land, but it was a dangerous doctrine to preach that a soldier, no matter what happened, must be supported by Government. All available land would be offered to the soldiers first. For years Government had endeavoured honestly to stop aggregation, but time after time the provisions made had proved useless. A new clause has now been completed- which, he hoped, will be effective. It is now proposed to take the laud from the aggregator at the Government valuation, plus 10 per cent, He denied that fit men were compelled to return to their pre-war occupation. He agreed tuat it was reasonable to ask that an allowance of £SO for equipping the home should be increased to £75, but he considered that to press for increase of loans for business from £3OO to £SOO would involve risk of tiie system breaking down under its own weight.

The Hon. Mr Coates said in reference to the proposal to make the increase in officers pay retrospective that the matter had been considered and it was decided that the matter should stand.

The Right Hon. Mr Massey said the discussion had been useful and had cleared up many misapprehensions. Government had never hesitated to do ail possible for returned soldiers and would continue to do so.