RETURNED SOLDIERS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 52, Issue 3771, 19 June 1936, Page 7

RETURNED SOLDIERS

POSITION IMPROVED IN PAST YEAR. ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL MEETING. Improvement in the position of returned soldiers generally during the list 12 months was noted at the opening of the annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association in Wellington on Wednesday. The passage of new legislation, improved business conditions, increased membership and the heightened prestige of the association were 'referred to. Welcoming delegates to Wellington, the Mayor. Mr T. C. A. Hislop, said it was the fifth of the conferences at which he had been present. The friends he saw about looked just a little older, but' just as vigorous to carry on the good work of the organisation. He referred to the absence of Sir Andrew Russell, the previous president, who had oeen loyal to returned soldiers from the time of their arrival back in New Zealand. Sir Andrew could rest assured that in the hearts of returned soldiers he would always be loved and respected. The office could have been assumed more appropriately by nobody than the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., who had worked unselfishly and vigorously in the cause from the beginning. Mr Hislop said delegates had the satisfaction of knowing the position of returned soldiers was better than when they previously were. One improvement was the Veterans’ Allowances Act. Although it contained anomalies, it was hoped they would be remedied in the coming year. There was room for improvement in other directions, too. The association’s year ended with a satisfactory financial balance. Public support by the purchase of poppies had increased. That showed that they had the support of the great body of the people, and when they knew that they could go forward with confidence to the Government with the matters they would have to discuss with it at the end of the conference. INTERESTING, USEFUL YEAR. The annual report stated that, generally speaking, the year could be regarded in many respects as one of the most V* tere sting and useful in the history of the association. It could not be denied that progress for some few years in relation to one or two major objectives had been negligible, but the results of the year have proved that the continued efforts of the association In the interests of the men had not been altogether wasted, for two most important pieces of legislation had found their way on to the Statute Book—the War Vet- , erans’ Allowance Act and the War Pensions Amendment Act, which partially removed some of the anomalies the association had sought for some years to have remedied. Probably at no time during the association’s history had it been so constantly consulted on- matters relating to the ex-servicemen by Ministers of the Crown and departmental heads, indicating the proper consolidation of its position in the community when the interests of the exsoldier are concerned. Finally there was the continued increase in membership which had moved from 24,451 to 26,878, and betokened a returning interest of the individual and a realisation of the comradeship that common service brought with it. VETERANS’ ALLOWANCES. While it was rather early to estimate accurately the benefit of the Veterans’ Allowances Act, to date its operation had been quite successful. Many men unable to prove that their ailments were due to war service had exercised the privilege to apply for, and had received, the war veterans' allowance. The committee, in its representation to the Government, strongly urged that the provisions should be extended to all ex-servicemen (with the requisite qualifications of actual engagement with the enemy, having been domiciled in New Zealand five years prior to the passing of the Act, and being unfit for permanent employment). That was mainly to cover the of the British Imperial Forces, of which it was estimated there were 20,000 men resident in the Dominion, many of them members of local associations. It was believed that there were, in addition, some 3500 Imperial veterans of the South African War. The committee had recently made representations to the Government for the amendment to be made, and also for another small amendment through the War Pensions Act. UNEMPLOYMENT. As a result of representations made by the association to the Canteen Trust Funds Board and to the National War Funds Council for allocutions of £25,000 and £20,000 respectively for. unemployment relief, grants were made for £lB,OOO and £15,000, and our thanks are due to each of those bodies for their assistance. While there were some present indications that the measure of unemployment would materially decrease, the unemployment grants from both the Canteen Trust Fund Board and the War Funds Council should be continued at least at the same rate. While it was hoped that employment would be more plentiful in the near future, it must always be remembered that the age of the average unemployed ex-service man made it increasingly difficult for him to compete with younger men, both in obtaining and retaining work. SOLDIER SETTLERS. Representations were made during the year to the Minister of Lands regarding the position of soldier settlers who were in arrears with their payments. One of the difficulties complained of was covered by section S of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1935, which provided for revaluation, and although any reductions which might be made would not be retrospective, commissioners of Crown lands were instructed to investigate all cases of arrears, with a view to making equitable adjustments. The onus of making application for retaluation was upon the soldier settlers. ‘Th addition- to the restoration of the provisions Tor revaluation, ar-

rangements have been made to facilitate adjustment oi rural mortgage liabilities where the State is the sole mortgagee,” the report continued. “This is quite apart from the Rural Mortgagors Final Adjustment Act, 1934-35, although the confirmation of any adjustment agreed upon between the parties would be obtained under the Act. This additional provision, the Minister considered, would cover the association's decision, which proposed that those under the budgetary system should have their allowances progressively increased in accordance with the increased returns from the farm from the same capital outlay.” The report was adopted on the motion of Mr W. E. Leadley (Christchurch), who congratulated the association on its achievements and commented that the increased membership during the last nine years indicated that returned soldiers were coming to value the association. The motion was seconded by the Rev. J. M. Stewart (South Canterbury). Mr B. J. Jacobs, vice-president, reported to the conference on a deputation from the association to the Minister ot Lands, Hon. F. Langstone, and the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash on subjects affecting men settled on land under the provisions of the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act with particular reference to the transfer of discharged soldier settlement securities to the State Advances Corporation, the reply being along the lines of Ministers’ pronouncements since.