N.Z.R.S.A. PRESIDENT DISAPPOINTED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 232, 28 June 1944, Page 4

N.Z.R.S.A. PRESIDENT DISAPPOINTED

Rehabilitation Set-up PRINCIPLES OUTLINED Disappointment at the “building erected on the foundation laid by the N.Z.R.S.A.” was expressed by Mr. B. J. Jacobs, Palmerston North, president of the N.Z.R.S.A., when he spoke ou rehabilitation at the association’s annual Dominion council conference in Wellington yestehlay. The Acting-Prime Minister, Mr. Sullivan, had referred earlier to criticism and co-opera-tion, said Mr. Jacobs. If the walls of lhe Ministerial offices on Parliament Buildings could speak, they would tell that the N.Z.R.S.A. had always approached any Government in a spirit of conscientious co-operation, not carping criticism. When the association knew men and women were being sent overseas it immedaitely gave its attention to many problems this created, he said. Resolutions were sent forward from the 1940 conference and the association had been disappointed that there was so much delay iu implementing the spirit of these. The Minister of Rehabilitation, Major Skinner, had referred to the Rehabilitation Act, but it might be opportune to remind the public that this Act was drafted by the N.Z.R.S.A. It was frankly disappointed at the building erected on the foundation it had laid and at the set-up of the rehabilitation edifice in Contrast with what it had originally envisaged. The basic principles of what the association envisaged were that the department should be self-coutained. utilizing t>uly as agent the available facilities of Government departments; that there should be a Rehabilitation Board of five fully-paid men all independent of Government departmental control. That, said Mr. Jacobs, was not reflecting on the heads of departments appointed to the present board. The Acting-Prime Minister had. however, referred to the magnitude of the task of rehabilitation, but, said Mr. Jacobs, if these heads of departments were able to devote 'the time required to rehabilitation then their jobs as departmental heads must be sinecures. The association considered that the Rehabilitation Board, or department, should control its own funds, received by special Parliamentary vote. It had been told that there were constitutional difficulties, but Dis answer was that if the men who had and were fighting had baulked at the obstacles which confronted them, today’s national story would be different. He was disappointed also that proper use was not made of the rehabilitation council as the association had visualized it. Later, if the conference wished it. he would invite the Minister back after decisions had been reached on rehabilitation remits. Land Settlement. Land settlement had been mentioned by Major Skinner. In his opinion, said Mr. Jacobs, there had been too much equivocation on the question of the right of soldier settlers, under the present legislation, to acquire the freehold. This was no time for narrow governmental policies, but for wide thinking. These men deserved nt least the same rights as were at present enjoyed by a large majority of Crown tenants, excluding those under the Small Farms Act, the soldier settlers of the last war, and quite a number of Crown tenants who, for reasons he did not question, had been excused military service. Before the General Election the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, said he pared to grant a qualified freehold known as the Bryant freehold or Waikato Land Settlement Society tenure. . That proposition only recognized nn injustice and then tried to perpetuate it. Mr. Jacobs said he also wanted to clear up misrepresentation concerning the N.Z.R.S.A. atttude towards the Land Sales and Settlement Act. The association did not express approval of that Act, but it did approve the underlying principles. It specifically said it would not achieve the main objective—the settlement of soldiers. If it did, the laugh would be on the association.. He acknowledged the full opportunity given the association to peruse the- pensions legislation in draft, to discuss it with departmental heads, the Crown Law Office draughtsman and Parliamentary representatives. Practically every amendment suggested was adopted, and the association gave almost unqualified blessing to the legislation. The Prime Minister had been unequivocal in his statements concerning the Government’s intentions. In fairness he would say that the association’s Dominion executive committee had not been unanimous on all the vexatious points, but he was satisfied that the majority decisions gave full expression to the wishes of members. It was now disturbing to find that those responsible for the administration of .the legislation were placing interpretations on certain parts of it, with the result that the Government’s intentions were not being fulfilled. He was so satisfied with the Prime Minister’s sincerity in relation to the intentions of the legislation that he was certain, if the association could prove its case, Mr. Fraser would see that it was amended.