THE R.B.A.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 90, 21 August 1923, Page 8

THE R.B.A.

L£CISLATION APPROVED. DEPUTATION TO PREMIER. Per Press Association.

Wellington, August 20. At a meeting of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association the following motions were carried unanimously: That the Dominion executive of the New Zealand R.S.A. desires to congratulate the Government on the snjirit and terms of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Bill (1923). It thanked the Prime Minister and the Minister of Lands particularly for the very careful and sympathetic consideration they, with their colleagues, have given to the condition of soldfer settlers as shown by the comprehensiveness) of the measure and, also expresses its gratitude to Parliament for its sympathetic reception and consideration of the Bill. It was aJso decided that a deputation consisting of the whole of the members of the executive wait upon the Pnime Minister and the Minister of Lands to convey the resolution to them and to submit suggestions for various amendments and interpretations of the Bill, when, in the opinion of the executive, they would still further enhance the value of the measure. A further motion was that, while 1 ima.blo>to understand or appreciate the action of the Government In delaying the presentation and general circulation of the War Pensions Commission's report till the Amending Bill, which wa s based on that report, had reached its committee stage in the House of Representatives, the Domtiuion executive of the N.Z.R.S.A. tenders its hefet thanks to the Government for introducing this further recognition of the undoubted claims of disabled men and their dependants to the consideration of the country. The association takes this opportunity, too, of placing on record its appreciation of the able and sympathetic report of the War Pensions Commission and, while recognising that the Government has adopted many of its recommendations, regrets that others were di.s-

carded. The as&xftation relies on the promises made by tho Minister to have a further- amendment, notably to clause 10, brought down by Governor's Message, and appreciates the

sympathetic nature of this action. At the same time it urges- that the Bill should make it quite clear that no permanent pensions should Be reduced below the figure at present pand. It asks, too, that an tion should be made tin clause 3, subclause 1, by deleting tho wardi—"together with his personal savings, if any"—so that slothfulness on the part of the bodily disabled shall not be encouraged and that similar deletionfj should be made in clause G for the same reason. Finally it requests Cabinet to rerev've a deputation consisting of members of the executive to submit its view s on these and other cognate matters in regard to which Blight amendments to the Bill are earnestly desired. A deputation from the Association waited on the Prime Minister and the acting-Minister for Lands (the Hon. W. Nosworthy) to-day to place before thep certain amendments which the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association desire to be made to the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Bill as passed by the House recently. The deputation asked that in setting up a Dominion board, the association should bo given represontar tion, preferably by the president of the association (Major4General Sir Andrew Russell), or Colonel A. H. Herbert, of Eketahuna. With regard to the district committees the R.S.A. thought the members of the soldiers' land inquiry boards should bo appointed to these committees, as they had done such fine work. Mr Massey: "Nearly the whole of them are being asked to take office."

It was asked that the Bill bo amended to make provision for assisting those men who had paid their interest and rent up to date. These men should have remitted to them the value of the (improvements they had effected.

Mr Massey said the Bill dated back to July, 1921, aJid these men w.ould get a refund of wTiat had been paid in excess of what was to be charged in future. The men would get a reduction in their valuations if they had paid their amounts right up to date in order to bring them ,into lino with others who were getting relief. The deputation asked for an extra advance up to €750 under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement. Act to enable soldier settlors in rabbit infested areas to obtain wire netting. Mr Massey said be thought he would be able to deal Sympathetically with th'is matter. Mr Massey assured the deputation that what anomalies were found would bo put right, and, he 'hoped, this session. In regard to the revaluation board, there was no intention to shut soldiers out. Whenever a soldier camo along who was suitable for appointment ho would l>e considered. Personally, ho had not thought of Sir Andrew Russell before, but he would be a most suitable man, aft he was not only a soldier but a farmer too.