R.S.A.

Southland Times, Issue 18838, 3 June 1920, Page 4

R.S.A.

CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON. SETTLEMENT OF DISCHARGED SOLDIERS. PROTECTION AGAINST EJECTMENT. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 2, The Returned Soldiers’ Association Conference to-day passed a resolution viewing with consternation the sudden withdrawal by the Government of loans to returned soldiers under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act and urging: (a) That immediate provision be made by Parliament to deal with all applications for loans which were lodged with the Land Boards before April 25, 1920; and (b) that in view of the la ge number of applications declined by 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.

It was decided also to call upon the Prime Minister to redeem the promise made by him to the last conference that the Act would remain in operation until every returned soldier was settled on the land. It was resolved further to ask all local associations to place their case before their district members of Parliament; also that the Prime Minister and Minister of Lands be invited to attend the conference, failing which the conference wait on them with (be object of obtaining satisfaction. The conference also decided to urge the Government to put in operation forthwith clauses of the Acts in force relating to the compulsory acquisition of land; that where practicable payment for land so acquired should be made by Government securities

(bonds, etc.) and that more stringent steps be taken to enforce the provision of the Acts relating to the, imposition of the graduated land tax with a view to forcing largo land-owners to place their land in the markets.

The remits passed on the subject of land included the following:—That the Government be urged in land ballots to give preference to men who proceeded overseas a< against those who did not; That discretionary powers be given to Land Boards to grant applications for sale after the expiry of five years; That the Government be urged to remit stamp duty on transfers to soldiers who obtain loans under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act; That legislation be passed for an immediate classification of lands; That district secretaries of the association be supplied by the Land Department with a list of all Government leases falling due within the next three years; That the maximum advance for the purpose of felling bush on soldiers’ sections be increased in all cases to cover the actual cost of felling; That the Returned Soldiers’ Association be represented on all Land Boards and that Boards be empowered to appoint local committees to dead with Returned Soldiers’ Association applications for land; That Boards have power to make final decisions without reference to the Minister in order to expedite the business; That attention be called to the ineffectiveness of Land Purchase Boards, and that a clear statement be asked of the Minister regarding their duties and powers. The following resolution was carried:— That this Conference is of opinion that the time has arrived when the various patriotic societies should earmark a portion of their funds for permanently totally and permanently partially disabled soldiers, and for men who are breaking down from time to time as a result of their military service.

The conference affirmed the principle tlAt returned men should be given protection against ejectment from rented dwellings for a further period of twelve months. The Christchuch branch submitted the following remit on the matter, and its adoption was recommended by the Land Committee; “That in view of the acute shortage of houses, this conference urges the Government to continue the protection given to returned soldiers by the War Regulations Act of 1914 against ejectment from rented dwellings for a further period of twelve months as from August 2 next.” Mr W. Perry (Wellington) said there was a great feeling against the protection being extended to returned soldiers, which found its expression amongst land agents and landlords. They all knew how acute tho house shortage was and from his own knowledge he could state that every Thursday morning the business of the Wellington Magistrate’s Court was taken up with tenement cases. He submitted that instead of soldiers being protected for a period of twelve months they should be protected so long as the house shortage existed. “If there is any individual in this country who ought to have a roof over his head and who is entitled not to be ejected from his house so long as he pays his rent and does not knock it about, surely it is the returned soldier who, during the last four o'. tivo years has been standing up to his knees in mud in the trenches, while the owners of houses were lying in bed,” declared Mr Perry amidst applause. Mr W. Leadley (Christchurch) remarked that since the principle had been put on tho statute book the protection to soldiers had been a bugbear to land agents and landlords, but to the majority of the returned soldiers throughout the country it had been a veritable godsend. He hoped the conference would realise the importance of the remit and see it was put through with no uncertain voice. He knew' of a case where a man who left wife and children behind when he went to the war returned to find that his home was without gas and water. About six months before the man returned his wife was told to quit the house, which, had been sold over her head. The landlord said that unless she got out within a certain time he would have the gas and water cut off. This threat was carried out. Mr Leadley said he interviewed the landlord and told him that unless gas and water were laid on again immediately the whole case would be published in the press, and the result was that next day the gas and water were reinstated. This was one instance which proved that protection was necessary to prevent returned men from being “bluffed” out and giving up their houses. The Rev. W. Walker (Christchurch), in supporring the remit, mentioned the case of a Christchurch woman whose husband was in hospital awaiting an operation. This woman had been ordered to leave her house by the Court, the ground of the landlord’s application being that the premises had not been kept in proper repair. All she had omitted to do was to keep the garden in order.

Mr D. S. Smith (Gore) opposed the remit because he thought that returned soldiers might have an unfair advantage over civilians. After all, the returned soldiers were now civilians, and they could be ejected now if they failed to pay their rent, committed a nuisance to a neighbour, or allowed their Houses to fail into disrepair. The remit was carried.