ADVANCES TO SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 235, 29 June 1920, Page 5

ADVANCES TO SOLDIERS

FURTHER PROTEST AGAINST STOPPAGE. By TeleeraDh—Press Association, Christchurch, Juno.2B. At a mooting of the Ghristcbur'ch branch of the.Returned Soldiers' Association the following motion was carried:— "That this, meeting l of returned soldiers and their dependants expresses its strong disapproval of tho action of the Government in withdrawing without due notice the advances under part 2 of the Discharged Soldiers' • Settlement Act. It considers the only equitable and honourable course open to Parliament is to make the benefits of tho Act available to all soldiers at present entitled to them and so avoid penalising those, soldiers who have had no opportunity of taking advantage of dts provisions. It desires to point out that many soldiers have deferred making application, relying on the definite promise of the Prime Minister that twelve months' notice would •bo given of any curtailment of the Act. It further calls upon tho Government to bear any loss incurred by thoso who entered into contracts and signed options prior to the announcement of the stoppage by the Hon. D. H. Guthrie (Minister of Lands)." The following motion was carried also:— "That the Government again be" urged to give serious consideration to the land settlement scheme submitted by the N.Z. R.S.A. and so give evidence •of their sincerity to settle all returned soldiers in the shortest'possible time." By TelGßraDh-pTOss Association.

Duneclin, June 28. At a, general meeting- of the E.S.A, tonight the following resolution was carried unanimously: "That this meeting of returned soldiers, having taken into consideration the statements of the Prinw Minister and Minister of Lands regarding the finance of the Dominion and tho possible effects of the continuance of the present scheme of advances under the D.S.S. Act in further increasing. the price of land, still considers that the only equitable and honourable course open to Parliament is: (a) To make tie benefits of the D.S.S. Act available to all soldiers at present entitled to'theso benefits,'and so to avoid penalising any aoldiers. who have but recently returned to New Zealand, or have lately been released from hospital, or lately completed ia period of training under the Repatriation Department; and (b) to provide that any loss incurred in 60 doing shall lie borne by the country as a whole."