LOANS FOR HOUSES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19986, 29 June 1920, Page 8

LOANS FOR HOUSES.

WITHDRAWAL CONDEMNED

SOLDIERS HOLD .MEETING OF

PROTEST

the Government’s action in withdrawing loans for the purchase of properties under iho Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act was discussed and condemned at a meeting of returned men and dependents in the R.S.A.' Club rooms last evening. The Rev W. Walker, president of the association, occupied the chair, n*i there was an attendance ot about one hundred and fifty people. Air U alkcr said that the meeting had boon called for the ciea -- and definite purpose ol registering ite protest against the withdrawal of ,'fic loans. The subject had boon with the Alinistcr of Lands by a deputation from the Dominion 'Conference, and the answers to the points raised by the delegates were evasive. For instance, Air Gutline bad been asked why ho had not given notice of his intention to suspend advances. His reply was that ho was a very busy man, that he did not go about making speeches, and that he had taken the first opportunity to stale iho position. Anyone who knew the methods and usages of thi s country would know Unit that was no excuse. The Afinistcr, instead of waiting until he had to go to such an out-of-the-way place as Jugieuood, could have sent out a message through the Press Association. without- leaving his office. One thing had astounded the-deputation when they became acquainted with it. nhen the Cabinet minute on the subject was produced it read: “Efforts to bo concentrated on the settlement of land already purchased and Crown lands available. Lo more houses in centres to be purchased, unless for special reasons.'’ Ihe deputation aslced lor a definition of wiiai constituted special reasons, but they failed to gain any information. The Government had taken up the attitude that it would much lather leud money’ lor the erection of houses than for the purchase of houses. 1 hat would be a very sound policy if it were practicable. But it was almost impossible to get timber to build houses If the timber was on the West Coast, ways and means should be found to bring it to the places where it was, required. There wore difficulties, but the Government should at least endeavour to surmount them. He had figures in his possession which showed that in 1918 very large quantities of kauri and rimu had been exported from this country. linn was dear evidence of lack of foresight on the part of Iho Government. AIR MASSEY’S PLEDGE, Air W. E. Lbadley, secretary of the association, said that the news of the withdrawal had come as a bombshell to returned soldiers all over New Zealand, because tbo Prime .Minister had gi7eu a pledge that the benefits of the Act would not bo withdrawn without ar least twelve months’ notice being given to the men concerned. A verbatim report of Air Massey’s reply to a deputation road; “The Government has no intention whatever of withdrawing these loans until all the returned men have been settled.” Later on Air Alassey said: “You can take that as a pledge.” The present position was that tho Land Boards had received instructions to accept applications from returned soldiers for the purchase of properties under the Act. The boards wero to consider those applications and send their recommendations up to Wellington. That was about ns far as the matter would go. The soldiers would find that none of those applications would bo granted unless there wero special circumstances. He supposed that Air Massey and Air Guthrie thought they were giving tho men diplomacy. That was not the kind of diplomacy that would bluff returned soldiers. When the R.S.A. executive submitted a list of suggested special circumstances, tlie Alinisters had replied, “ Such a course is as Cabinet cannot anticipate the action of Parliament with respect to such matters,” Surely Air Massey could have promised that Cabinet, which formulated the policy of the Government, would ask Parliament to vote a certain sum. The reply meant nothing more or less Hum that Cabinet was not prepared to continue loans underaScction 2 of the Act. That wag the top and bottom of it. The time had arrived when the soldiers must remind the Government that five years ago this country realised that it could depend no longer for its protection upon its wealth or upon its statesmanship, and that it had to depend for its existence upon man-power. The Government was still dependent on its fighting force. Another world conflict was bound to come, and, whmi it did, the yrMne men of the day would always remember how the New Zealand Government had treated the returned soldiers after the last war. It should bo made quite clear to the Government that the returned soldiers were going to see that the promise given in all seriousness, and accepted in all good faith, was not to be regarded as a mere scrap of paper. (Applause.)

“ the honourable course.’' Mr H. J. Knight moved; “ That this meeting of returned soldiers and their dependents express its strong disapproval of the notion of the Government in withdrawing, without due notice, the advancesunder part two of the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act. It considers that the only equitable and honourable course open to Parliament is to make the benefits of the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act available to all soldiers at present entitled to them, and so avoid penalising those soldiers who have bad no opportunity of taking advantage of its provisions. It desires to point out that many soldiers have deferred making applications, relying on the definite promise of the Prime Minister that twelve months’ notice would be given of any curtailment of the Act. It further calls upon the Government to boar any loss incurred by ihose_ who entered into contracts and signed options prior to the announcement of tlie stoppage by the Hon D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands.”

Mr J. Pctherick. in seconding the motion, said that the returned soldiers should toll the Government where to get the money that it needed for tho fulfilment of its promises. Thorp, should be a penny per pound special export duty on all lamb, cheese and butter that left the country. Mr G. W. Lloyd mentioned several instances a here soldiers had suffered hardship through tho withdrawal of advances for houses. The motion was carried unanimously, and it was agreed that copies should be sent to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Lands, and members of Parliament for Christchurch and district. A telegram from the Invercargill Pv.S.A. was road, stating that meetings were held by every branch throughout Southland to protest against the Government’s action. LAND SETTLEMENT. The Government’s land policy was strongly criticised by Mr G. Struthers, who moved:— " That this meeting urges that land speculation must stop, and we demand that the Government should enforce the present Land Acts; that all lands wduch are held by one man above the local area should be commandeered by the Government to settle returned soldiers, at the-pre-war ratable value, plus 25 per cent.” Mr Struthers said that Earl Haig had said that the war would not be won until every returned soldier was settled. Speculation was the cause oi much «jf the trouble in New Zealand today. The land on which the returned men were settled had been ourchased at

a high price, and when a drop in values came the soldiers would, be hit very hard.

The motion was seconded pro forma, the chairman explaining that it conflicted with some of the .proposals now supported by the central executive. iltr N. B. M’Callum said that the meeting should not move at present in the direction urged by Mr Struthers. All that could be done was being done by the Dominion executive, and "a sound scheme had been drawn up. There were numerous difficulties, and guidance had been received from men who were experts on the subject. Ho believed in the compulsory acquisition of good land, held in large areas, that was not producing what it should, so that the hundreds of returned soldiers who wore awaiting settlement could be adequately provided for. Air Lcadley said that the meeting should show that its criticism of the Government was not destructive- The Government should he told that it was the soldiers’ desire that it should tackle the land question as it had tackled the repatriation problem. When that was done, every returned soldier that desired it would be settled on the land within twelve months. Air H. J. Knight moved as an amendment;— “That the Government again he urged, to give serious consideration to the scheme of land settlement submitted by the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, and so give evidence of its sincerity to settle the rcturtied soldiers in the shortest possible period.” -Mr M’Callum seconded the amendment, which was carried after the motion had been withdrawn. A DUNEDIN PROTEST. 11’rk i’UEss Association.! DUNEDIN, June 29. At a general meeting-of the Returned Soldiers’ Association to-night, the following resolution was carried unanimously : “ That this meeting of returned soldiers, having taken into consideration the statements ot the Prime Minister and Minister of Lands regarding the finance of the Dominion and the possible effect of the continuance ot the present scheme of advances under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act in further iticreating the price of land, still considers that the only equitable and, honourable course open' to Parliament is (a) to make the benefits of the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act available to all soldiers at present entitled to these benefits, and so to avoid penalising many soldiers who have but recently returned to New Zealand or bare lately been released from hospital, or lately completed a-period of training under the Repatriation Department, and (hj) to provide that any loss incurred in so doing shall be borne by the country as a whole.”