R.S.A. CONFERENCE CONSIDERS HOUSING AND LAND POLICY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18182, 15 June 1927, Page 9

R.S.A. CONFERENCE CONSIDERS HOUSING AND LAND POLICY.

GOVERNMENT URGED TO FIND EMPLOYMENT FOR DISABLED MEN. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 15. The R.S.A. conference carried the following remits with little discus* Asking a statement from the Minister of Lands as to the possibility of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act being reopened for housing purposes at an early date. Reaffirming the policy of the association for the sub-division of suitable areas of Crown lands when the present leases are terminated. Protesting against the proposal of a section of farmers that preference to returned soldiers at land ballots be removed. That when a soldier is unable to pay both principal and interest in full, but can pay interest, he may, at the discretion of the Land Board, be allowed the usual rebate on interest. Special recommendations were adopted regarding the Ngaroma and Kaihere soldier settlements. The conference recommended that South African veterans be given the same privileges under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act as returned soldiers from the Great War. It was resolved as regards housing that as re-pavments are made they be earmarked for loans for housing to | soldiers who did not avail themselves | of the privileges when the scheme was ; in force. i The Government was urged to make provision for disabled returned soldiers, “ wingies,” by providing work as lift atj tendants, night watchmen or messenj gers in Government Departments. I It was resolved that the scheme of j economic pensioners having to report weekly at the Labour Department be discontinued and that strong iepresenI tations be made to the Government for the problem of the unemployed disj abled soldier to be investigated thorI oug'ily by the Department of Scientific Research, with a view to utilising as much as possible of the present pro* ductive material which by the creation of a roll of unemployed is being qu.ct- , ly laid aside at a cost of some thousands of pounds per annum. The problem of the unemployment of the unfit also included civilians and a scheme for Ithe employment of such men could be extended to embrace those, persons in-