R.S.A. CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1932, Page 4

R.S.A. CONFERENCE

OPENED IN WELLINGTON. THE UNEMPLOYMENT POSITION. (Per Press Association — Copyright.) WELLINGTON, June 28. The anr.ual conference of the Dominion Council of the New Zealand Returned iSol Tiers’ Association was op’wed by the Mayor, Mr His.op,. today. Tlie Mayor said that the position in regard to unemployment ''twos’ really an appalling one. Cua. person outO'of every seven was now: on: relief! .\VGrks. That figure showed how essential is was that; they ■ . should knuckle down and. he expressed the opinion that in those, cases, where a tnan> was disabled and was Junab.e to go to the camp?, he •should stii’-l get a couple, of days’ work in the cities. Such a man should have the same right that he previously enjoyed—securing relief under .'he Number 5 Scheme. It should be possible to find light work for him. The President of the Association, Sir Andrew Russell, said that the time had arrived when the people of New Zealand must get together as one big famr U/. If they did that, they would have something t<* show on the right ■side of the ledger when they came to balance up the depression, A deputation representing the Cefl* tral Executive managing th e Flock House Scheme for the training of New Zealand boys, made, an 'appeal for the Association's support. .-They complained that the R.S.A. organisations throughout the• country had not given .the scheme the-'support that was expected. At present i there were 20 sons of soldiers at Flock House. As far ra could be seen, by the end of July, tber e would be forty. It had been agreed to make the maximum age 19, so that it rn-as hoped that more boys would be able to take advantage of the scheme. THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT ACT. PROVISIONS NOT GIVEN EFFECT. WELLINGTON, June 28. Regret at the failure of the Government to give effect to the provisions of the Disabled Soldiers’ ■ Civil Re-estab-lishment Act is expressed in the annual report of ' th e Dominion Council of the New Zealand Returned So.diers’ Association. •

The report states: Repeated representations :to the Government to put the legislation into operation have been made without success. The position at present is that employment and; : vocational officers have been appointed in the tour centres, and local advPyry committees have been sec up. The employment and vocational officers have doiie their Very best to obtaih suitable., employment ■ ill existing avenues fat disabled- men, but.-their efforts hard ( been practically nil. ' < “Not fifty permanent situation? have been obtained, and this result, which can be called distressing to ail concerned, has, only emphasised the view of the’ New Zealand R.'S.A. that the problem of utilising the remaining ability of the disabled .soldiers is entirely different in every aspect from Mi at of general unemployment. It is.-a problem that demands special consideration in vierv of the economic and financial difficulties with which the Dominion is at present grappling.

URGE TO SET UP TRIBUNAL,

CONSIDER MONEYS AND CREDITS

WELLINGTON, June 29. The R.S.A. Conference carried the following remit: “That, in view of . the acute want in a land of plenty, and the evident dissatisfaction with the :exist : ng monetary and credit system as revealed at this Domin oil Council meeting of delegates of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’-- Association , it urges the setting up of a tribunal, presided over by a Supreme Court judge, to hold a full, open and immediate inquiry into the operations of the New Zealand monetary and credit system, and possible alternatives thereto with a v:ew to meeting the legitimate requirements of. trade, commerce, and . industry, and to provide a maximum stimulus in effort to meet our overseas obligations.” Some speakers wished to delay the matter till after the Ottawa Conference had been held, but an' amendment to this effect was defeated.