REPATRIATION OF SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 63, 7 December 1917, Page 5

REPATRIATION OF SOLDIERS

CREATION OF DEPARTMENT ■ URGED. A report on the repatriation of soldiers was placed More tho. Advisory Board of tho Now Zealand Pntriotio Societies yesterday by tho Laud Committee, which had held a special ineet- \ ing to consider tho subject. The conipnitteo had adopted tho following resoilutions:— ■■ ..,,-.

'. (1) That for tho purpose of acquirjing land for settlement by returned 'soldiers threo-farmers in each land ■district be appointed on the Land Purchase Board, with voting powore in so ! far as lands in their respective districts arc concerned.

(2) That in order to repatriate soldiers it is essential to create immediately a Expatriation Department, and that an advisory board consisting of expert) civilians and returned soldiers iehonld be associated with such Department. ~■ - , The committee was of opinion, that a deputation representing the- Advisory Board should, wait upon . tho. National .•Efficiency Board in order to ask for its jco-oporation in.urging the Government |.to give effect to , .'the resolutions. The considered--that as > soon as ftlie Repatriation Department bad been .formed all matters with relation to the 'repatriation of ''soldiers' should be sent tlirect to that Department. The chairman' said it seemed to tho committee that'the-association:, of local experts with tho-Land Purchase- Board rin each district'was very important inIdeed. .Already taistakes lad been made, and it'obviously was in tho interests of tho soldiers that the best [available knowledge should be applied % tho selection of land for their use. •The board had already urged tho Government to create" a-Repatriation ;Dopartment ,in order, that: thero might .■be no division of responsibility as far us tho returned--soldier was concerned. !At present several' Departments had 'dealings with him. ■•' i - •-■■ The board- adopted the resolutions, and decided to place them before tho (Efficionov Board.'' ,-■■'■■' ■■•' • -

Later in the day 'a deputation repreteonting the Advisory"Board.waited upon the Efficiency' Board and asked for assistance in the Government to create a Repatriation Department;