EX-SOLDIERS MEET

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 1, 26 September 1921, Page 6

EX-SOLDIERS MEET

NEW ZEALAND R.S.A. EXECUTIVE SETTLEMENT AND OTHER PROBLEMS REPLIES FROM MINISTER OF LANDS Many matters of interest were discussed at a meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, which commenced in Wellington on Saturday morning. There were present: Sit Andrew Russell, K.C.8., K.C.M.G. (president), Messrs. D. 8. Smith (vice-president), R. B Bril (Gisborne), W. E Leadley (Canterbury), A. Fair, C. AV. Batten, and N S Johnson (Wellington), J. D. Forbes, and T. AV. M'Donald (Otago) N. A Vercoe (Nelson and Marlborough), 1. Jteng (Auckland), L. M Inglis (South Canterbury), J. D. Harper (hon. treasurer), and Colonel Row (secretary). The treasurer presented an approximate interim statement of income and expenditure fct the five months ended August 31, 1921. The expenditure, which amounted to £1774 10s. lid included £163 7s. Bd. for badges, «£SGL 2s, Bd. conference expenses, £291 refund of the special district levy of 2d. per head, and £<4S 15s. lOd. for salaries 1 he, receipts amounted to £1938 45., and included £ll-’ 4s subscriptions, £lb6o lt>s. renewals, ’£l3l arrears, and £2B ss. reissues There was an excess of assets over liabilities of about £2190. Mr Bell considered tnat the trav.lling expenses of the president when engaoed on work connected with the effition should be paid. He pointed o't that Sir Andrew Ruesell had recent, y loured tho north'on behalf of returned soldiers, and he did not think it was fair That tho president, of the association should pay his own expenses. Iho next president might not be «o loirii nntely situated as Sir Andrew LussolL and if the, president was allowed to pay his own expenses in, doing nork for the association St might prevent "ood though not wealthy ln * n ta the position. Ho moved that tho pitesildmt bo requested to f'' rwa * d a claim ter exp“n«es and t J ult to ing sub-committee bo instructed to pay ’’"'Other members paid n high tribute tn the work of the president during hw t<s Wr Andrew Russell su’d ™ llld rot claim for expenses in this instance. As the motion laid down a principle it was put and carried . Several replies from the Minister of lands regarding resolutions carried a the last annual general mo'ting of the Dominion Council were dealt with. TIMBER CUTTING. . The first was: "That the attention of the Land Board be drawn te tho unsatisfactory operation of the tions regarding timber-cutting by soldier settlers, particularly in case of land held under tho Haurtiki pastoral lease, and that the Land Board be. requested to facilitate the , of f b .T^c r own in reply, that so far no 1 ad boon imposed on the cuttu l| °Tj a 1 ur . v i t i bv soldier settlers under the Haunik to civilian and soldier st-i tlers al ke, provided that licenses tq cut timber’ over certain sizes be Sown* Auckland d" thSk thal any applications from £ soldiers interested had been refused* -The replv will be forwarded to the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association. HOUSES IN MINING AREAS, The second remit concerned the"w- -?? Xmil of the Government to grant the erection of houses.” ffSX Wished the DAnartnient concerned, to bo IX sh»a. Wd «»■ U ?h« JHn«" -kfed th.t FiGV'ih -Th. x.piy ™ «■" th.. te Hther rSuHon asked the Goveriv Anoim-r returned to raise X Ixilance. not/ subscribed to the £6,0M.00T loan for the charged soldiers, and to put the com pXrv clauses of tho Act into operagn at as early date as was e=cP«d-nt The Minister pointed out that rece newspaper announcements indicated that the toquest was being complied with.

advances on stock. a recommendation was recently forwarded to tho Lands Department that Sis taking up land subject to more than two mortgages or under for sale and purchase should bo ell B lbl to apply for 34i advance for stock, the security for such* loan to ba a bill of sain over such stock. The Minister replied that the regulations under which advances might lie made provided that in addition to a bill of sale over tho stock a mortgage must ho taken over the land on the applicant's interest therein He was not prepared to alter the regulations, as the stock itself provided a very poor eute stituto security for an advance, and ffaB one that with had management might depreciate considerably m a very abort time. The chairman said he did not -understand why the Minister had refused the re jlr e Batten pointed oft that if a man had stock and wanted (in advance ho could get it from tho Repatriation Department. It seemed ridiculous that the Lands Department, who were the real body to control these matters could not advance anything. The reply was accepted. “That Cabinet lie asked to indicate tho manner in which it is proposed to carry out tho promise made by the Prime Minister nt Hawera about April 12 to help men financial difficulties, especially’ those upon sheep country who were dependent upon private firms in order to exist,” was another remit recently forwarded to tho Minister. He replied that the Government was at present assisting those in financial difficulties by postponing the payment of their rent and interest; by freeing last saason’s wool from tho Department’s lien, and in necessitous and deserving cases by slightly increasing the advances that might be made, provided the soldier’s interest in the land was sufficient to warrant it.—This was accepted. SETTLEMENT OF T. 3. SOLDIERS. "Every effort will be made to settle T.B. soldiers upon suitable land,’” was the Minister’s reply to another question.

Regarding tho building of houses, stated the Minister, advances were being increased where the boards considered the advance was required l , and the ap-

plioants could par their way. The executive decided to inform the Minister that it had been found that the various land boards wore not exactly carrying out tho sentiments expressed in tho reply. RE-VALUATIONS. The .association had urged the Government to give an assurance that where a soldier settler applied for a re-valua-tion of his holding it would be granted. The Minister of Lands replied that any Crown tenant could apply for a revaluation after he had been in occupation of his holding for not lees than three years, and more than six. The matter was referred to the next conference. . „ , ~ Tim Minister further informed the executive that land boards had ample power to recommend postponement or remission of rents for his consideralion, nnd it was not proposed to give them nny greater powers in this respect than they already possessed. This matter was also referred to the conference. Regarding a request that the Government make provision for adi ances up to £1 10s. per acre for clearing scrub land, including gorse and manuka, the Minister said it was a matter for the Land Board to decide, and it was not proposed to provide for a fixed price per acre for doing work that varied so much. It was decided that no further action be taken. SOLDIER SETTLEMENTS. A verWl report Was made by the secretary to the effect that he was preparing a return showing details in regard to soldier settlement. Ho, was endeavouring to obtain information from reliable men on each settlement in order to be able to advdse the association how the various settlements were turning out He had hoped to receive replies from all parts of the Dominion, but the majority of those received eo far came Mini Canterbury. The secretary's method was commended by several speakers, and he was urged to continue it. , A brief discussion took place upon the Avonhead Training Farm. Canterbury, and it was decided to recommend the Government that, if it refused to continue carrying on the farm, the land should be cut up for settlement. ’ A report was received from tho Otago Association urging the setting up of a Royal Commission on the question of soldier settlement. Many settlers it was stated, were very much behind in rent, and in one district the had petitioned for a reduction in rental their ability to. pay bemg hampered br the bad result's of the season The matter was referred to the next Dominion Conference. IMPERIAL SOLDIERS. A remit w'as received from the Canterbury branch stating its opinion that the time had arrived when ex-lmperial soldiers should be organised as a unri of the N.Z.R.S.A.. with a view to securing for them Government assistance to enable them to become successful settlers in this Dominion. ' Mr. Leadley, in moving the ad °PV°" of the remit, said he believed the time had arrived when they should organise ex-Tmpettal men. Men were arriving every week, and wandering about without "assistance or friends. The policy of the association was to settle their own men. hut he thought as far as New Zealand was concerned that was just about completed. They should now go further nnd organise a separate unit of ex-Tmperial soldiers, so that they could make them successful settlers in the Dominion. The Canterbury Association had therefore passed a resolution dealing with the matter, andif it was carried that association would call a meeting of those men, and place before them the work the Returned Soldiers’ Association had done, and urge tliein to organiso as a separate unit. Mr. Harper seconded the motion pro forma. He thought something should ha done for these men, but was against them being organised as a separate unit. They should become members and the association cohid then ascertain their requirements. Mr. Leadley said that if they were members of the association they would ask for the same benefits, granted to New Zealand returned soldiers. If the association did not organise them, then they would organise themselves, and they did not want two bodies dealing with returned soldieta’ requirements. The chairman said that the only thing the executive oould do, was to refer the matter to the Dominion Conference. ' y Mr. Bell moved that the motion be altered to read: "That in the opinion of this executive the time lias now arrived when ex-Imperinl soldiers should be specially urged to join the Returned Soldigrs’ Association, with n view to securing Government assistance to enable them to become successful settlers in this Dominion." Th* was agreed to. Mr. Jteadley moved that the sub-coni-mittce be asked to’ ascertain from all Government Departments what assistance ex-Tmperial soldiers could obtain both »>s civilians and soldiiers. This also was carried. Tho proceedings were adjourned till 10 a.m. to-day.