EX-SOLDIERS’ PLIGHT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 147, 24 June 1931, Page 6

EX-SOLDIERS’ PLIGHT

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. DEPLETION OF FINANCES. SERIOUSNES : OF POSITION. AUCKLAND, June JB. Ihe serious position of ex-service-men. in the present unemployment crisis was represented to the Minister ot Railways, Hon. W. A. Veitch, by a deputation from the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association yesterday. Major-General Sir George Richardson, president of the association, and Colonel T. H. Dawson and Mr. A. C. A. •Sexton, vice-presidents, addressed Mr. Veitch, who gave an assurance that their opinions woulfl be submitted to the responsible Ministers. Sir George explained the depletion of the resources of the association, which, from the funds amassed from Poppy Day appeals and other restricted means of revenue, had provided all possible assistance in procuring necessities for distressed ex-servicemen. It was essential to understand, he said, that, owing to war disabilities or age, there were numbers of soldiers who vould not derive benefit under a Government relief scheme. As it was, the cessation of the No. 5 scheme of relief had brought about a situation demanding urgent measures. Sir George said he considered that old clothing and blankets discarded by the Defence Department should be made available to needy soldiers. Camp for Single Mon. I n the opinion of Colonel Dawson men who did not go to the Great War and entered the positions of those who did, were, in many cases, the only persons who were prospering at the present time. He suggested that Narrow Neck camp should be made available to returned unmarried men, 200 to be accommodated at a time and rations to be supp.ied by the Government. “This would be immeasurably better than offering charity at the night shelter, ’> Colonel Dawson added. “Such a means of assistance is necessary to these returned men, who are ‘slipping’ faster than others into the ‘slough of despond.’ Those who served on Gallipoli or in Franco simply cannot stand the strain of economic depression so well as those who did not serve in the trenches. ’ ’

Air. Sexton mentioned that the trustees of the Poppy Day funds were receiving from 400 to 500 applications for a relief a week. This situation, alone, was a significant indication of the seriousness of the position, as it affected returned soldiers. He said he considered that the Government had reached a position where it should obtain fresh advice on means of relief, as it was obvious that all attempts up to the present had failed. Reply by the Minister. In reply, Mr Veitch, expressed his conviction that Parliament, when it met, would adopt a comprehensive system of relief. There were registered 50,000 unemployed, and, if each man were to receive £3 a week, there would be an expenditure of about £8,000,000 a year—an enormous ligure for a country with a population of only J,5(10,000. The Government had been compelled to reduce wages, because of the collapse of wor.d currency. It had to bo realised that the Government had made every effort to meet an exacting situation. The position, actually, had gone beyond the resources of New Zealand and the legislation which had been passed ha<’ not yielded the revenue expected. Mr Veitvh said he was not prepared to say that the cost of living had yet been reduced by 10 per cent. He concurred with the deputation in saying that returned soldiers had as much claim on the community at present as on the day they enlisted for service.