NOT SATISFIED

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 14, 11 October 1919, Page 8

NOT SATISFIED

RETURNED SOLDIERS' CLAIMS

REPORT BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE

The Parliamentary Committee of the Wellington Keturned -Soldiers' Association last night submitted u report to an extraordinary general meeting of the as- . sociation covering a number of matters in 'which returned men are interested, Tho report was qs follows: — Allowances. (1) That soldiers' financial assistance bo made fully retrospective to all members of the iS T .Z.E.F. (2) That the i\o\v Zealand rate of pay be raised lo tlmt of the A.1.F., and be retrospective. Pensions. 1 (1) That the minimum pension he Raised to permanently totally disabledysoldiers to Jj.'i 15s. per iveek, J;i supplementary, . and XI for attendant, to be over ana above the sum of tho minimum pension, (2) That in regard' to soldiers who marry in England or in Mew Zealand subsequent to becoming disabled, their wives bo eligible in every case for pension in eas-o of death ot husband as a result of war disablement. (3) That a pension bo paid for war disablement at any time alter discharge, and that tho present legislation restrict, ins the period to seven years bo amended accordingly. (-1) That examinations for T.B. and nerve, cases be made by specialists. Gratuities, ' (1) That the resolutions re gratuities oil the minute-book of tho W.K.S.A. be the subject of questions to candidate's at the forthcoming elections. (2) That tho resolutions passed at Fea- . therston Hospital- and appearing on tho uinmte-book be incorporated. (3) That gratuities be paid to all New of the Motor Boat Patrol. Land. (1) That is. 6d. be the foe for any valuation for an inspection of any dwelling under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, and no stamp duties" be chaiged to soldiers on the first purchase of property of land, and this to bo | made retrospective. Repatriation. (1) Sustenance grants for men for whom employment cannot be obtainedthat the-scale be raised as per conference report, viz.: Man and wife, 555.;' man and wife and one child, (J3s.; man and wife and two children, 705.; man and wile and three children, 755.; man and wife and four children, 80s. (2) That loans for businesses be increased to £500, of which ,£IOO shall be free of interest. _ (3) Soldiers' Homes: That as a general principle the Government should build soldiers' homes immediately in sufScienfc numbers to cope with the present shortage of houses, and should co-operate with local bouies in building houses. (4) Furniture grants ho raised to .£75 instead of .£SO. . (5) That repatriation, benefits be made available, for widowed mothers, and benefits under the Discharged Soldiers' Settleraent Act bo mad© available, to "widows, widowed mothers, and nurses of 1 tho N.Z.E.F. Separation Allowance. That clause 12 of the Government's scheme as passed by Parliament in which these allowances (wuot be claimed as i right and arc issued at the discretion of the Minister of Defence, be withdrawn. j Anzac Day. That' April '25—Anzac Day—be a statutory holiday as a day of commemoration. Patriotic. Funds. ■ That a committee arrange to confer with representatives of those bodies which aro controlling jiatriotic funds, with a view to formulating a, scheme of national benefit and for final disbursement of 6uch funds. Cantssn and Regimental Funds, That as these funds have been paid into the Consolidated Fund, they be paid to the widows and other dependants of returned soldiers where such widows and dependants are otherwise insufficiently provided for, Legislation, (1) That legislation against unnaturalized Germans be passed by Parliament. (2) That the Customs tariff be so altered as to practically exclude alien enemy goods.

1 (3) That stringent anti-profiteering" legislation be brought forward and passed by Parliament. "Opening Mouths Too' Wide," Mr. W. Perry moved that the clause suggesting that tto N.Z.E.I?. rates of pay should 'lie raised to the Australian rates bo deleted. If it were adopted, he said, the association would be accused lof "opening its mouth too wide." As a result of the motion \passed at the recent meeting regarding gratuities the association had made itself very unpopular. (Uries of "No.") The/consequences would be similar if the clause in question wero carried. Mr. C. A. L, Treadwell eaid that if the association asked the country for another ,£0;oOO,flOO or .£7,009,000' it would have no earthly chance of getting the money, and would run a risk of having reasonable requests refused. ' Voices: "What rot! ■ We are not profiteers !" Mr. Treadwell, although subjected to some interruption, persisted in his remarks, and characterised tho proposals regarding pay as ridiculous and absurd. (Dissent.) Mr. A. B. Sievwright contended that tho "Diggers" should receive fair niul reasonable'treatment. .The returned soldier was entitled to the extra one (shilling a day asked for, and. the money 6bould be extracted from the profiteers. Mr. J. M'lCenzie thought that if 6s. per day was not too much for the Australians it was not too much for the New Zealanders either. . _ By a majority of eight votes the meeting (lacidcd to retain the clause. The rest of the report was adopted, and it was resolved to forward the various clauses as remits totlie forthcoming conference of the N.Z.E.S.A.