SOLDIERS’ PROBLEMS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19523, 24 June 1933, Page 21

SOLDIERS’ PROBLEMS

THROUGH UNEMPLOYMENT. N.Z.R.S.A. SUGGESTIONS. Various remits framed to deal with unemployment and relief questions relating to ex-servicemen were carried at the annual general meeting of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, in Wellington. Colonel R. F. Gambrill presented the report of the unemployment committee, which, while appreciating the consideration which has been given to single ex-servicemen with dependants and widowers with children in certain districts, requested the Unemployment Board to make this practice uniform throughout the Dominion, and not require such men to take work in camp which necessitates their absence from home for long periods. Mr W. E. Leadley (Christchurch) seconded the committee’s recommendation, which was approved.

Unemployment Tax. The council decided to protest emphatically against the emergency unemployment tax of 1/- in the £ being levied against any moneys of the R.S.A. which are being used to give additional work and sustenance to unemployed ex-servicemen, and also those who are physically unfit to work on No. 5 scheme. In the course of the discussion on the remit, Mr Jacobs (Palmerston North) expressed the opinion that steps should be taken to obviate the future payment of this levy. Other speakers thought it should be represented to the Unemployment Board that the money was not income, but represented the capital of the Association. . ■ “That returned soldiers in receipt of pensions up to 17/6 per week shall be eligible for the issue of rations by the Unemployment Board when no work is available,” was a Christchurch f remit, which was carried. The giving of work, said Mr Leadley, was not penalised by the drawing of a small pension, but men out of work were debarred from obtaining rations. Insurance. It was decided that headquarters be instructed to make a close' investigation of the position of returned soldiers with war disabilities who are on relief work and have been required to sign a form absolving the State Accident Insurance Department of any liability in case of accident, and to take any steps necessary to safeguard the interests of these men. The council was of opinion that such men should be covered by insurance by the State through the State Office. It was suggested by the unemployment committee that the matter of art unions for the relief of unemployment should be referred to headquarters.

It was decided, in view of the premature closing of the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act, to request the Government to give preference to suitable unemployed returned soldiers when selecting applicants for settlement under the existing or future small farm schemes.

Export Gold Tax. The following remit was from Dunedin: "That in view of the large numbers of soldiers engaged in prospecting for gold, the Government be urged to exempt from the export tax of 12/6 per ounce on gold all prospectors working under subsidy from the Unemployment Board, it being the opinion of this council that the small

amount of gold won by these prospectors after strenuous work in face of many hardships makes the burden of such tax unduly heavy.” The small amount of gold being won, and the hardships being experienced by soldier prospectors were emphasised. It was quite possible, it was stated, that gold cost about £lO an ounce to produce, if all efforts were considered. The remit was carried. The recommendation of the Unemployment Committee that the Disabled Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment League should be Incorporated at the earliest possible moment, was carried.