A BREACH OF FAITH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10606, 3 June 1920, Page 5

A BREACH OF FAITH

STOPPAGE OF ADVANCES U.S.A.’s CONDEMNATION OF GOVERNMENTS ACTION. DEPUTATION TO WAIT ON PREMIER. The Government was strongly condemned by the delegates to the annual conference of tho New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association yesterday for its action -'n stopping advances to soldiers under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act.

This was consequent upon a remit from the Christchurch association, ‘‘That this conference views with consternation the sudden- withdrawal by the Government of loans to returned soldiers under the D.S.S. Act. It strongly urges, (a) that immediate provision should be made by Cabinet to deal with.all applications for loans which were lodged with land boards before April 2oth, 1930; (b) that in .view of the large number of applications declined by the land boards, since the Government’s withdrawal of loans, Parliament should authorise the continuance of these loans at the earliest possible moment during the coming session.” Tile motion was considered by the land sub-committee, which recommended: (a) That in view of the urgency of the matter, the Government be strongly urged to make provision for the continuance of the D.S.S. Act; (b) that the Government be called upon to provide money forthwith to enable all returned soldiers who have entered into' contracts or taken options for the purchase of properties to complete their engagements, as promised by the Prime Minister to a deputation from the executive sub-com-mittee in May last; (c) that the Prime Minister be called upon to redeem tho promise made by him to tho last conference that the D.S.S. Act will remain in operation until every returned soldier has been settled on tho land.” A PROMISE NOT KEPT. Air W. Perry, in supporting the recommendation of tlie sub-committee, said that when they interviewed the Prime Minister he had promised that a further half million sterling should ho available to tidq urgent oases until more money was obtained. This promise had not been kept. Some time must elapse after Parliament met before the appropriation could be obtained, and they now urged that immediate provision be made. ” “1 hope it will go out that the Government'has committed a breach of faith,’’ said Air W. E. Leadley (Christchurch). The Premier had made the association a definite promise that) 12 months’ notice would he given of any stoppage of loans, and as this promise had not been kept it meant that in future written statements must he obtained that Parliament wa s prepared to carry contracts out. Air John I. Fox (representing the British section) suggested that the Premier and the Alinistcr for Lands bo incited to the conference to hear the views of delegates, and failing an acceptance of the invitation that the conference wait on the AOnisters. Air R. Reid (Alarlborough) urged delegates to pass a vote of no confidence in . tlie Hon. D. H. Guthrie for his bad handling of the D.S.S. Act. Air H. AlcPherson said that it was hard enough at present for men to get a roof over their heads as things were. The action of the Government made tlie position more acute. DEPUTATION SUGGESTED.

In response to a suggestion that a deputation wait on the Prime Munster the president, Dr Et Boxer (Hastings), said that deputations were not much use, and it was up to the conference to devise ways and means to approach the country and make their demands. “If you make a demand on the country as distinct from the Government you are more likely to get redress than hv moans of a deputation, which will only result in a suave reply from th e ’ Alin istc r, ” he concluded. The remit and sub-committee s recommendation wore then adopted unanimously. ' On the motion of Air R. B. Bell (AVairoa) it was then rcsolvbd; That a resume of the position in connection with the sudden stoppage without notice of advances under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act, ho prepared by the executive immediately, and that in this statement the Government’s repudiation of its pledge to the association be frt-rossod, and that it bo forwarded forthwith to all local as socriations with urgent instructions to place it before their district members and urge strong action by Parliament.” ~ , , f _ A suggestion by Mr John I. 1'ox: "That in view of the urgent necessity of the immediate reinstatement of loans under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, this annual commence invites the Prime Minister and the Minister for Lands to attend this conference, and failing tins, that the whole of the' delegates should wait on the Ministers in order to obtain satisfaction before conference rises,” • was also approved. The secretary was then instructed to communicate the desires of, conference to the Premier, and later in the day, advice was received that the Prime Minister and Atinistor for Lands would recognise the conference as a deputation at 10 a.m. to-day. Aicssrs W. Pern- (Wellington) and W. B. - Leadley (Christchurch) were appointed to place the views of the association before the Ministers.