MINISTER REPLIES TO N.Z.R.S.A.

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 235, 1 July 1944, Page 8

MINISTER REPLIES TO N.Z.R.S.A.

Rehabilitation Issues

DECENTRALIZATION WHEN MACHINERY READY

Housing, temporary accommodation in existing camps, tlie constitution of the Rehabilitation Board, decentralization, freehold or leasehold tenure for soldier settlers, the interest rate on advances, and refinancing of mortgages, were among tlie subjects dealt with by the Minister of Rehabilitation. Major Skinner, in reply to N.Z.R.S.A. Dominion conference representations placed before him yesterday by three speakers for the conference. They were .Messrs. B. Malone (Te Awitututu). J. llesselt (Ellham) and T. G. Taylor (Wellington). Their representations covered the decided policy of the conference, as published yesterday, mid mentioned in the opening address of tlie Dominion president, .Ur. B. J. Jacobs, when the cuui’ereucc began on Tuesday. ’flic Minister acknowledged that in tlie enrlv days of the Rehabilitation Department there had been dillicultics and some disappointment, due in part to lack of administrative experience by some officers. Tlie position would continue to improve as experience was gained mid, in some places, adequate oilice accommodation was obtained. The work he did as Minister of Lands that was not connected with rehabilitation was just routine; such ns of itself would not require a Minister. With the portfolio of Forestry tlie work which needed guidance was concerned with rehabilitation. 'l'o have a rehabilitation department with its own State Advances, Lands, Forestry, and other self-contained sections within the department, would be wasteful and defeat its own purpose. It would take 10 years to train the necessary staff and get the organization working. The existing departments must be used but only bis department administered rehabilitation. Others, in respect of that, acted as agents, subject to tlie decisions of the Rehabilitation Board, and bound to give these effect. He knew the difficulty of changing the outlook of various members of departments acting as agents, but it was being done. No one would deny the changed outlook, for instance, of the State Advances Department compared with 12 months ago. There was still some friction, but it would disappear. Every member of the Rehabilitation Board 'was a returned, soldier, and each sat with the same objective. He knew the State Advances hud a bad name. that it was much criticized, but he would invite R S.A. representatives to attend n board meetjng. After they had heard the various problems discussed, he was sure thev would agree, even though one department or other might have a bad name, that there was nothing wrong wilh the reasoning of their representatives on the board. Their desire was to administer the findings in the spirit they were made. . Decentralization.

“We will decentralize just as soon as we are satisfied that the organization can handle this,” continued Major Skinner. He knew some local committees which could do so today,. Others had not. jet the experience. Because of that, decisions inconsistent witli policy were sometimes made. He had seen on the files how Great War men waited two years and a half to get a loan and other mild scandals, caused by decentralization. A start with decentralization would be made this time with Auckland, the largest district, and then the other three main centres as soon as the machinery could handle it. He agreed that all applications should be made through joeal rehabilitation committees. One drawback was in the way things started. Before a Rehabilitation Department.was set up, the State Advances handled applications. After local committees were constituted men continued to go to the State Advances.. Applications should be handled bj’ his department only, and if it was necessary for a man to give information to another department, a rehabilitation officer should go with him for introduction and guidance. There were, .staff diihcuitie.s against that now, but it would be brought about. „ , Interest Kate.

Regarding the interest rate he had placed several schemes before the Government to give the ex-serviceman greater advantages than now. B hether theie would be a review, or some concession giving the same result, he did not. yet know. The Government’s supplementary loan procedure on the purchase of properties had- been io bridge the gap between 1939 and the present costs. He would prefer to see purchase prices agreed between vendors and purchasers, before goiiv* near a Land Sales Committee. Where there were evasions of the regulations concerning Property sales the penalty was up to a £lOO fine, or three months’ jail, for individuals, and a iouu fine for companies. He appealed to members to do all they could to have the regulations administered as they should be. None should try to circumvent the Land Sales Act or advise anyone on this slon. or close their eyes to anyone else trying to get. round it. The Act. bad only two purposes: to stabilize values and ■five xvhat. assistance was possible to exservicemen, The full support, of every returned man would be step toward success. „ „ .Mortgage Re-Finance.

The rc-financing of mortgages was being done up Io a point. He would like to see more, ami doubtless t lie practice would be extended. But; to im-finntice st mortage could mean not, putting a man back in the same position as when be joined up. but in.a very much better one. They must not ignore national economy If every private mortgage was refinanced at Government ral.es. the effect would bo most serious on the national economy.. The freehold versus leasehold discussion went back a long way. AA'ould the Land Sales' Act. have been necessary if there had been no freehold? The fact that it had proved that the principle underlying freehold had failed. If all land transactions had been controlled there would have been no need for the Act. There were nearly 4009 soldier-settler lessees after tlie last Avar, of whom only 301 had changed to freehold and SI. to deferred pavmimt tenure. AA Imre land was subdivided his own opinion av.'is that; there should be renewable leasehold. He could not nnprcctale anyone Avho understood tlm AVaikato Land Settlement. Society tenure wanting it. The Minister appealed for 10(1 per cent, returned soldier eo-operalion in stabilization. which Avas linked with reconstruction. If the latter failed there could be no rclmbilitalion. Some nmn had been established in businesses and could not. gel: tobacco to sell. Men from their own organization had opposed if. Other rehabilitated men selling manufactured goods had to secure these' surreptitiously from merchants Avho did not want it known tbiw Avere opening pcav accounts. The rchiibilitnted nmn. set up in business, must get a fair spin, a share of tlm market and of tlm a va ibi bl-' sumdy of goods.