RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 207, 27 May 1919, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

REPATRIATION PROBLEMS

SHARP CRITICISMS OF THE

GOVERNMENT

By Telegraph-Press Association, .Christcluirch, May 26. The annual conference .of the Nv:*w Zenland Returned Soldiers* Association opened to-day, Dr. Boxer presiding. There were about sixty delegates present. They wero welcomed by the Mayor. The annual report contains severe cri ticism oi the Government for its hasty legislation last session. The executive, says the report, has consistently urged upon the Government and people generally the imperative need for providing al the earnest possible date machinery for repatriation. The Government has created a Department of Repatriation with greater regard for political consideration than efficient administration. A repatriation policy had not been enunciated because tho Government lias none to put forward, and any constructive suggestions made have come cliieflv from the association and representatives of repatriation committees.

After dealing with the cost of livin" particularly a* it affected the soldier' the report refers to tho future. "Tliu radical remodelling of our social system," it says, "is imperative, and for a long period to come industrial unrest is likely to bo such as both to threaten tho whole economic basis of society and create uncomfortable conditions for those whose positions in tho social organism are not relatively well paid and secure." It was to be regretted that the Government had given 110 indication that it realised this position. The problem of repatriation would rcach n critical stage in a few months, but so far as preparations by those responsible were concerned, indications irer,i that it would be sheer good luck if there {Mis'not serious trouble 'with re«ard to land settlement. Insufficient data wero available to judge of the .success or otherwise of tho scheme of settling soldiers. Certain features of the administration of tho Land Department called for severe comment. The demand for land by returned soldiers was 110 casual one (0 be satisfied through the ordinary channels of land exchange.

President's The president,. Dr. E. Boxer (Hastings), in moving tho adoption of'the 10port, said that tho qualities which' had distinguished the New Zealand Force would now have to be applied in civil matters. , The great question of 1919 w,w repatriation. The Act broughb down in December was carried in a rough-and-tumble scramble, and was an absolute abortion. Tho exigencies of tho situation. however, made necessary a measure of support by the association, with the right of criticism reserved. Tho Government had had three years' experience in Repatriating men, and at the end of 1918 had done practically nothing in that direction. That was the Government's own condemnation. Tho association did not see why the Government should sacrifice efficiency to political beliefs. He hoped to seo a single Minister responsible for repatriation, 'co-ordinutijig the whole scheme in his own person. It was not until the armistice: had forced their hands that tho Government rushed through the December. 1918, scheme. Patriotic boards had been doing the work that the' Government should have been doing for three years. When tho Government sought, as they would do, to sweep up tho moneys into their own coffers, they should have it made clear to them that such wa3 not their right, seeing that these bodies had been doing the Government's work.. Whenever the Government found a 'private body ready to carry on their work they washed their hands of Hie work; and said, "Carry on." Tho president urged the engagement ol a well-paid secretary. He urged the strong support of "Quick March," tho association's official organ. Tho association's representation on various bodies was extremely good, but he hoped to seo the day when every land board in New Zealand would have a member of the association thereon. He urged a. loyal support of the local associations, ami greater interest in matters affecting lha soldiers' interests.

Mr. Batten (Wellington), in seconding tho adoption of the report, said it was a matter for congratulation that tho association had never heckled or embarrassed the Government. He urged tho need for greater publicity regarding tho work of the association not only through "Quick March," but through other papers. ■,

Discussion on the Report. The motion for tho adoption of the report aud balance-sheet was discussed at very great length. Mr. Andrews (Auckland) said the report was disappointing. Everything (.he previous conference had instructed the exeoutive to do they had tried to carry out, but had met with great difficulties: The Government had not done its duty regarding retrospective allowances. The association had a great task ahead, and if it could not get justice during the next year it would never get it. Mr. M'Manus (Dunedin) said ho regretted that nothing had been said about the creation of new industries or expansion of old industries. The Government policy had been one of inaction. In tl-e matter of land there was an urgent need for direct representation, for land had been purchased at fictitious values, based on .war profits. It was possible that a soldier jjould make a living while prices were high, but when prices came down ho might be faced with ruination,

Mr. Miller (Taieri) <said the Government had alienated the sympathy of I lie country and dono absolutely nothing tor the returned soldiers. Commission agents should bo cut out from .'lcalings with land for returned soldiers. /

Mr. Leadley (Christchuich) said (he Christclmrch Association Iml initiated a. proposal to settle soldiers at poultryfarming in Canterbury, but. it had boon turned down. If there l.ad been one Minister in 'charge of repatriation the •matter could have been dealt with more expeditiously. Mr. Leadley remarked that the Government's concessions regarding retrospective allowances had been extracted by throats, and if justico could not be got otherwise he believed in using threats and backing them up. Determination was needed in lighting tho Government.

Mr. Brown (Wanganui) said it was tho second mortgage which presented' tlio main difficulty to returned men.

.. Mr. Laycoek (Palmerston North) said the newspapers seemed to delight in giving publicity to returned soldiers' offences. There was a tremendous gamble going on with regard to land values.

Mr. Luxford (Waikato) said that, the land boards and not the repatriation boards were doing the work of" repatriation. . Tho position in regard to pensions was absolutely wrong. Mr. Luxford suggested tho appointment ot an exclusive organising secretary in addition !o jho general secretary. . Mr. Dalhousie (Auckland.) regretted that so little had been accomplished by the executive, but the fault lay with Parliament.

Mr. Jacobs (Palmerston North) said that tlicro had been too little constructive criticism. Returned so'dicrs were almost as much to blame m the Government, for even at this day the association lind no definite proposals to put io the Department. He advocated the compulsory acquisition of land for soldiers.

Mr. Long (Auckland) regretted tlio failure of the report to mention the nursing sisters, and urged the association to take, up their case. He condemned tho Departmental heads for obstruction in repatriating. and said the Public Service Commission n r had declared (hat girls wore so satisfactory as clerks that there was little possibility of returned soldier* getting positions in the Public Service. Mr. Pridha.'ii (Wnnganui) said tlio public revenue must not bo got from soldiers but from the stav-af-homes.

Mr. Iteid tillenheini) deprecated criticism of the executive., declaring that probably most of the district associations wanted'cleaning out. Mr. Seymour (general secretary), in replying to criticism regarding tho lateness of the report, said tlio Marion branch had made no returns whatever

during the year, and its delegates werfl therefore not eligible to vote. At a later stago an explanation was offered by the Marton delegates, who were permitted to remain. Mr. Harper (Wellington) said the executive welcomed constructive criticism. It had done a lingo amount of work, and after nil the association must depend on ' the goneral public for assistance, and the work of the executive in influencing public opinion could not, bo ovor-esliinated. Ho denied an allegation.of a Waikato delegate who said that one soldier's pension had lieen stopped on the report of a policeman. It was tho duty of the Waikato branch to have reported the matter promptly, but he had telegraphed for full information. Referring to the Weiling ton deputation on retrospective allowances, Mr. Harper said that Sir James Allen had left the room before Mr. Fox had made his .statement, and credit for the Minister's altered attitude was due to Mr. Clinkard's suggestion that justice should be dono to married men beforo gratuities were considered. Mr. Helling (Auckland) replied tba*, Mr. Clinkard had admitted that Mr. "Fox's threat bad carried the day. He urged that vocational training should bo taken out of the hands of Mr. W. H. Montgomery and placed under flic Kepatriation Board, where Mr. Montgomery might get a much more useful post. Mr. Stringer (Waikato) said tile fisso. oiation was up against the need for direct representation on land boards. The motion to adopt the report \vaa carried, and the conference proceeded to appoint committees. On the. election of a Land Committee there was a protest that only one South Island member was nominated. The committee was therefore enlarged to give more even representation.