GRATUITIES FOR SOLDIERS.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 September 1919, Page 5

GRATUITIES FOR SOLDIERS.

‘ DEPUTATION TO THE GOVERNMENT. A NOISY DEMONSTRATION. WELLINGTON, Sept. 10. A. deputation of upwards of a thou,sand soldiers marched from their club 301150 at 5-30 to bring before the polificai’ leaders at Tequest that the war gratuity should be on a basis of £l5O for each soldier with two years’ service. The public thronged the route and followed the procession to. Parliament Buildizli-ES, where it was met by Mr Massey, Sir Joseph War-d, Mr HOl-' land, and members of both Houses, The leaders were greeted with cheers, hoots, and general uproar. Mr Mas. sey appealed for quiet, and his efforts were supplemented by the spokesman of the deputation, but all to no avail. Mr Massey exclaimed, “This is Simply impossible I refuse to listen,” and suggest that the spokesman be receiv_ ed in the Cabinet room. This was agreed to; fut tlie crowd remained in boisterous mood, hootiug and yelling, interspersed with tunes by the pipe band which led the procession. The speakers were introduced by Ml’ Aldritch, secretary of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association, who drew attention to the resolution passed by the Wellington branch ar. the Town Hall meeting, in which it was unsolved that the soldiers’ demand £l5O by way of gratuity for each soldier ‘on two years’ service out of New Zealand, such term to be more nr less according as length of service LS more or less than two years, every soldier to be put on an equal footing‘ as to rank.

Mr J. McKenzie, appointed by last nighfifs meeting, said «he deprecated the use of the word‘ “gratuity,” as what they were asking was reward for services, not charity. The only man who made any sacrifice during the war was the soldier. While he was away fighting others who I'elnain~ ed at home were making huge profits. ~Re.tailers were making larger profits than ever beforee. Meat-growers were not satisfied with 45 per cent., but demanded. 55 per cent_ Mr Massey, in reply, said that if there was an? idea on the part of the soldiers that the Government did not intend to do everything for the soldiers that was fair and just, he hoped they would get rid of that idea as soon as possible. The reason the qustion of gratuities was not se't;tled before this was the absence of the leaders on the other side of the world, vvliere they were doing their duty in another way. Hisdeolleaglies here held the :rnatfer up till t,heir return. The same thing happened to Australia owi.n;g to the absence ‘of Mr Hughes and Mr Cook. The attitude of the Governn: at was favourable to returned soldiers, proof of which was when vaca'.«lr;ie,;: ocourred in the .\linistry re?cently he appointed two returned so‘:dierg to Ministerial positions. They were good men, and the soldiers could rely on them looking after their interests. Fault had been found with the land settlement policy of the Government, but a great work was really being done, for in addition to those settled -on the land 2000 men were learning trades. He considered it ‘might not ‘:.~ advisable to pernlit"soldiel-s to sell land for some time. He knew in many cases if they were allowed to

sell to-day they could make a large profit en the purchase price.’ As to delays, he had been looking into the gratuities scheme-_ Not till then did he realise the complexity of the task in front of the Minister, than whom no man had worked harder for soldiers.’ Proposals would probably come before Cabinet in a week, perhaps ten days, when the represntations made by the deputation would receive care» ful consideration. He thought he could promise that the Government proposals would give general satisfaction to the community at large and to returned soldiers in particular. Sir Joseph Wal'd said he could not settle the gratuities question except so far as an individual member of Parliament could help. He must wait and see What proposals the Government brought down, but he was prepared the go a long way to assist soldiers. He considered the present inflation of land values a great danger to the oourrtry, and on the subject of s-prc.u----lai.i.o;-1 he said if a. soldier returned and

wanted his farm back he would not hesitate to take it from the purchaser and. give it back to the soldier at ‘mo. price the purchaser paid for it. This was the only way to stop speculation. If these monstrous infiations in values went on, and the soldier found when he came back he was unable to get land, that was the best way to sow the seeds of revolution. Mr Holland said the Lbaour Party would stancl for the fulfilmont of every obligation to the returned soldiers. Whatover their views on the war were, thgy would stand by t‘nem_ They insisted ‘upon an adequate. wage for the soldier,» and while one m'an_ was Required to give ins life the ot.he:should be compelled to give up his money. He was not prepared to say

on the spur of the nlomenz what amount of monpy shouui be’ paid, as hé had only been ask to attend the deputation at the last; ~2':oment, but a reply would certainly be given within a. week-, and the party would stand

for a flat rate. Mr Aldritch thanked the leaders for their cordia'l reception, and the crowd quickly dispersed. While the spokesmen were in the Cabinet room the crowd outside became more boisterous -and‘ demonsfra tive, while a few let themselves go so far out of hand as to resort to the smashing of some fiveor six panes of the windows in the vicinity_ Order was shortly afterwards restored, without anything nlore_ untoward happening, and what somefof the men them-« selves afterwards described as aregrettable incident fizzled out.