ACTION BY MINISTER OF REHABILITATION UNDER CRITICISM

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 May 1947, Page 6

ACTION BY MINISTER OF REHABILITATION UNDER CRITICISM

(P.A.) Dannevirke, May 5. The attitude of the Minister of Rehabilitation in regard to the settlement of returned soldiers on the land came under criticism at the annual meeting of the DannevirkT and District Returned Services’ Association. Discussion arose over a case in the district in which private land available for settlement had gone to a civilian in preference to a returned soldier who wanted it. It was stated that this property, despite all endeavours by a serviceman to purchase it, had been placed under option to a civilian who already possessed property in the district; that the Minister of Rehabilitation had agreed to operate Section 51 of the Servicemen’s Land Settlement Act and later had decided not to do so, despite a strong protest by the Dannevirke executive to Dominion headquarters against the action of the Minister in reversing his previous decision. After considerable delay in getting an answer from the Minister, a letter came to hand on the evening of the annual meeting, in which the Minister stated that in deference to the expressed wish of the late owner of the property concerned that a civilian interested should have an opportunity of acquiring it, he had decided not to take the land under Section 51 of the Act for the .settlement of a returned serviceman. ■ ‘ After a lengthy discussion, the following motion- - was passed unanimously:— "(1) That the Dannevirke and District Returned Servicemen’s Association registers a strong protest to the Minister of Rehabilitation at his action in refusing to operate Section 51 of the Servicemen’s Land Settlement and Amendment Act. “(2) That full facts be given the widest publicity without names being mentioned. “(3) That this annual general meeting views with alarm the Minister of Rehabilitation’s failure to honour his promise to do everything within his power to settle returned servicemen farmers on the land. Furthermore, this meeting has no confidence in the ability of the Minister to administer his portfolios of land and rehabilitation for the benefit of ex-servicemen, and that the Minister be informed accordingly.