THE D.S.S. ACT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 213, 3 June 1920, Page 6

THE D.S.S. ACT

SUSPENSION OF PROVISIONS

RETURNED SOLDIERS INDIGNANT

MINISTERS TO BE APPROACHED

Delegates to tho conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association yesterday waxed very indignant over the suspension of the provisions of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, and their views on the matter are to bo laid before the Prime Minister (the Bt. Hon. W. F. Massey) and the Minister of Lands (the Hon. D. 11. Guthrie)' this

morning. V Several remits on the subject liad been submitted, and the Lands Committee of the conference recommended that the Government be strongly urged to mnlio provision for the continuance of the Act; that the Government bo called upon to provide money forthwith to enable all returned soldiers who have entered into contracts or taken options for the purchase of properties to complete their engagements, as promised by the Prime Minister to a deputation from the executive sub-committee during May last: and, that the Prime Minister be called upon to redeem the promise made by him to the last conference that the Act would remain in operation until every returned soldier had been settled.

Mr. \V. E. I.eadley (Chrietchurch) said that there iras' great indignation on tho part of returned soldiers in respect to the sud(Un stoppage of loans. Another promise made, bv the Prime Minister had not been fulfilled. After the October confercnce, the Prime Minisrer hnd stated thnt twelve months' notico would l)o given before any of the benefits affecting returned soldiers would Iw withdrawn. Tho suspension of the D.S.S. Act was sufficient evidence that the pronfsp had not been redeemed.

Mr. John I. Fox (British section) demanded that the Prime Minister should be called upon "within on hour" to make some definite statement regarding the matter. >

A number of other sneakers Joined the discussion, all of whom took tho opportunity of severely criticising the Prime Minister and the Minister of Lands over what had taken place. One speaker declared that temporary simopusions would hnve, find hadiia'd. a bad effect on business. People would not enter into contracts to soil land to soldiers because they could not afford the consequent delay. Time and time aßain he had heard it said bv people who had done business with soldiers tlmt "they would "never aßain touch a spldier." That attitude was due entirely "to the temporary stoppages that bad taken place.

Dr. E. Boxer (president) did not tliinfc that sending deputations to the Government would do much good, as they only received a lot of "soft soap" fioni Ministers. Instead of the. Government, the people should be approached, and tho demands .of tho returned soldiers placed before them. By this means lie thought more satisfaction would bfcobtained than by merely Retting the suave assuranco of some Minister. (Hear, hear.) On the motion of Mr. It. B. Bell (Wairoa) it ivasjinaniniously decided to urne local associations to place their views on the matter before the respectivomembers for their districts, and to press that the whole matter bo reviewed by Parliament. '

. It was also unanimously decided to invito the Primo Minister and the Minister of Jjands to attend tho conference to rivo some assurance respecting the matter. ,

The recommendations of the committee were adopted. - The conference communicated with tho Prime Minister on tho subject, and he replied that both he and the Minister of Lands would receive a deputation from the whole conference at' 10 a.m. to-day. i