SOLDIERS’ NEEDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19815, 5 December 1919, Page 7

SOLDIERS’ NEEDS.

DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER. UNSYMPATHETIC DEPARTMENT CRITICISED. An influential deputation from tho Returned Soldiers’ Association named this momma cn the Prime Minister (Air Alasseyj to firing under liis notice several mutters affecting their members, and particularly the refusal of tho Railway Department to reinstate returned soldiers in the Department. Mr A\. E. Leadley, tho secretary of tho association, said that Air Massey had promised to reinstate in the liuiiwuy Department all soldiers who went on activo service. Nevertheless, negotiations in regard to local cases had not been satis!actory, and it was thought that if definite cases wore brought ooforo Mr Alassey it would emphasise the matter. Tho first case was A, who was the only survivor of three brothers who enlisted voluntarily. Ho had a. widowed mother dependent on him, but on applying for reinstatement as tv dork in flic Hallway Department ho was turned down after medical examination, and could not even secure casual employment. He had been twice wounded, and had won a. commission on tho field. The ;ase of B was that of a man who left the railway service to go to Australia to enlist. He had stated, on leaving the Department, that ho was doing so “to tako up a bettor position,'’ but this better position was to light for ids country. Tins fact was seized on by the Department as an excuse for not "einstatiiig him. Hie soldier in question was questioned by .Mr .Massey, and stated that he had gone to Australia to take up wireless, but after serving in various warshins lie transferred to the N.Z.E.F. and served three v ears, being wounded at Mossines. I bo third case, Air Loadloy said, was that of a porter, v ho had been offered a position us crossing-keeper at £3, whereas other men on cusual work wero getting ‘J s more a day. Ihe soldier concerned in this case, questioned by Mr Massey, said that he had been twice turned down for medical uniitness. Ho was not being treated „as well as men who went to the trout. Air Alassey said that tho Department took hack_ every man who was lit to do his old job, but in other cases, where the old wage could not be earned, tho tensions Department, should come in. tic had been informed that where men wore precluded from previous employment an effort was made to give them lighter work, and tho difference should be made up by flic Pensions Department. He maintained that the Government had a duty to every man who was hurl. Air loadley said that il this policv had been carried out the association would not bo waiting on Air Alassey. In reply to fur flier questions the soldier concerned said that instead of working forty-eight hours he was called on to do sixty. LAND SETTLEMENT. Air N. B. Al’Calinra, president of the association, speaking in regard to land settlement, said that too many men were disappointed at each ballot. Tho association asked that the Government should adopt a bold policy of land settlement when the men were keen to go on the land. Canterbury had been negloctod in'this j*csnoct 3 and tho demand had not been so well mot as m Auckland. Returned soldiers were spending money in going from one end of New Zealand to t-ne other, and the Government should open up big estates that were not fully stocked or were not being fully worked. “Can you suggest any?” said Air -Massey. , Acs, ’ said Air Al’Callum. 11 Tevioioalo and Sondown.” He added that in ugh country blocks tho soldiers should bo able to get the stock as well- In the f.ako Station the stock should have been secured instead of being sold. If tho successful .-oldier was not at the clearing sale the stock should bo hold until the ballot. Air M’Callum also asked for the sotting un of civilian advisory boards. •i\ CO, R IO * speak tor Canterbury.” said AH- Alassey, •• but it is being dono m the North island.” Air Al’Callum said that the boards would giro a man a reasonable chance ot making good before prices wont down. Summing up. Air At’Galium said that the present policy was not bold enough. “if wo go much further,” said Air Afassoy, “we will net to tho end of our money.” GRATUITY ANOMALIES. The Rev A\ . Walker, speaking of anomalies in the gratuity scheme, said that in ono ca-so a (main sdv’oirolyi wounded had boon treated as an outpatient for twelve weeks before being admitted as an iu-patient for eighteen months, <urcl this break as an out-pa-tient debarred him from getting the minimum pension- In another case a man who was illegitimate had been brought up by a compassionate, woman to manhood. He enlisted early, and was killed. .The woman was partly dependent on the soldier, .and, although she did not apply for a pension, she had applied for a gratuity, and had been turned down because the case was not eorered by tho regulations. “T do not think it is covered by the Act.” said Air Alassey. If the case conldl ho got over by legislation, lief would arrange itMr AValkor said that a Board of Appeal should bo set up in each district to make recommendations to the Department. This would deal with individual cases of the kind. REPATRIATION AFFAIRS. Air Leadley said that ho wished to lay before Air Alassey the stereotyped reply of the Repatriation Board to the request of the deputation of tho Dominion conference to tho Prime A 1 inis ter and members of Parliament. In this reply the whole of the requests had been refused, and such action made soldiers very doubtful of the sincerity of tho Government in its professions of a square deal. Air Alassey said that neither Air Guthrie nor Air Coates had oven seen tlic reply. “That is the trouble,” said Ah* Readier, “bn: aren’t they members of the Repatriation Board?” II Yes,” said Air Alassey, “but they are looking after tbeir own electorates. This is a purely departmental reply.” Air Loadloy asked whether tho points could he reconsidered by the central Repatriation Board. “Yes, certainly,” said Mr Massey. A GENERAL REPLY. Air Alassey, in replying to the deputation generally, said that he had ,i good deal of sympathy with the gratuity anomalies referred to. As for Hie laud question, Canterbury had dono more than any other laud district m tin* settlement of soldiers. The figures were ; -Auckland North, OSO ; Auckland, 7(13; Hawke’s Bay, dOd; Taranaki, -b 7; Wellington. 14(H); Canterbury. Kill. “Docs that include town properties?” said Air Al'Callum. “Yes.” said Air Massey. “ Then w 0 are not disputing that,’' said -Mr Al’Callum, “but what about grazing and pastoral runs?” Apparently, Air Alassey added. Canterbury was at tho top of the list not only in regard to cases dealt with, bur, also to eases pending Ah- Al’Callum said that flic complaint was that not enough land was bcin» opened under the ballot. “ Air Alassey said that tho Government In placing -4001) men on Canter bury land and 9000 in homes in the cities had done very well, and new cion the, British Government, with all its