R.S.A. News.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3509, 22 June 1920, Page 6

R.S.A. News.

REPATRIATION, The New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association rightly claims the Credit of initiating the present scheme of repatriation, but cannot be blamed for the scheme not having been, enlarged and extended to ensure uniformity of benefits, as the Association las for some time been advocating fhat land settlement should be carried out by the Repatriation Department instead of by the Lands Department. There is r. mistaken idea that the settlement of discharged soldiers on the land is all that is necessary to ensure satisfaction and to benefit the soldiers and the country as a whole. Apart from the small loans "which the soldiers may obtain to enable them to start in business, the industrial needs oT the country have not been considered to any appreciable extent; but it is only reasonable to assume that the aieed of New Zealand at present is not increased production from the landto the total exclusion of increased industrial production. In most cases, discharged soldiers who take up land are allowed to incur a liability to the State for any sum between £IOOO and £6OOO, and in some cases the capital value of sections balloted for''is in excess of the latter s um; but discharged soldier who may have export technical knowledge and great business ability cannot scure more than £3OO to enable him to go in for an 'industrial venture. The*people of New Zealand are more in need of woollen good's, boots and shoes, and the hundreds' 'of other essentials which are at present manufactured in distant corratrie-s

from our own primary products;' seliit back to us, and sold, with the \fts£ c/f freight and the profits of htnifcWtife middlemen added. If the Government had been, alive to the possibilities' of the Repatriation scheme,, some provision would certainly have been made to enable returned soldiers to establish industries for the manufacture of essentia* commodities. At present the scheme benefits only those who wish to go on the land, and it seems grossly unfair that a man who wishes to take up farming to produce butter, cheese, mutton, or wool (of which we have more than sufficient) should be assisted by the Slate to-tho extent of (say) £3OOO. whilst a man who wishes |to :inai ufact'ure Nothing,' bcV-ts. or some other commodity .which we have to import) receives practially no assistance or encouragement whatever. It may be contended by some that the export of primary products on the highest scalc'is essential, as the farmer receives cash for his produce and the country benefits; but if the farmer and the farmer's man and everyone else in the country have to purchase imported manufactured goods, the cash received for the primary products goes out of the country again, and the balance in our favour is very small. This is only one phase of the scheme-of repatriation, but it is clear -that ia great opportunity has bfeen missed by the Government in its failuse to grasp the idea that industrial progress is as essential to the welfare of the Dominion as is land settlement. A discharged soldier placed on the land at a cost of £3OOO does noti employ as much labour, nor docs he directly or indirectly benefit as many people as would the man' who was financed into a manufactory; and'OoSney advanced for the establishment; «rflndustries would be equally as as money advanced for land statement. • t '' i "''

I i ■: - OBITUAEY. The returned soldiers of the district, together with is numerous other friends, will regreat to hear of the death of the wife of one of their comrades, in the person of Mrs "Jim'| Harris, which took place at Ruanui Hospital on Saturday morning. Mrs Harris was well known and esteemed throughout the district, and the sympathy of the returned men will be extended fo the bereaved husband. It is with sine re regret that we also learn of the death of Mrs Pleasants, mother of Mrs P. E. Wakeman, of Taihape. During the war. Mrs. Pleasants was one of those members of the Taihape Women's Working -Club, who always took an active part in providing for the needs of the soldiers on active service. The sympathies of the returned soldiers of'Taihape and district will be extended"'to the relatives of the deceased lady in their sad bereavement. •"•?, APPRECIATION. At the recent valedictory banquet to Mr A. L. Arrowsmith, the work, of -that gentleman in his connection with patriotic bodies was to < : by snore than one speaker. The returned soldiers are fully appreciative of the good work done by Mr but there are many local returned'soldicrs who are in a position to know that some of the most valuable done by Mr Arrowsmith on behalf of -returned men has never been made public. A good many diggers are aware of the fact that in connection with applications for land and houses, they received valuable assistance and

advice from Mr Arrowsmith, and that for some time a member of the firm was permitted to devote a great deal of time to the receiving and forwarding of applications for land and houses under the D.S.S. Act. Some of these men have asked me to place on record their keen appreciation of the valuable assistance given to them by Mr Arrowsmith. It is not necessary to refer to any other~work done by Mr Arrowsmith on behalf of the diggers, but the opportunity has now presented itself to record the-keen appreciation of returned soldiers generally of the splendid work done oil their behalf by Mr Arrowsmith during the war and since.

GENERAL. Some members are apparently riot aware that the 10/- sub. entitles them to membership only till 31st March following payment, of sub. It should be obvious that the Association cannot keep an account for each individual member, and those who paid 10/- at any time between 1/4/19 and 31/3/20 are reminded that their renewals were due on Ist April, 1920. The recent conference discussed a remit having for its object the exemption of returned soldiers from income tax, super tax. etc,.;,but the remit was not adopted, the Conference considering that those who... were in the fortunate position of being liable for pay- • f ment of such taxes should not object to paying them. Still, this scribe has an idea that the digger should be exempt from all war (axes, as it is not a fair thing that he should have to do the actual fighting and then be called upon to pay, by way of tax, for the boots and clothing he wore out, the ammunition he used, and the rations he consumed in the process of 1 winning the war. J The new executive of the X.Z.R.R.A. has decided not to take any further action with regard to its request for a Royal Commission to inquire into the administration of Avar funds. The jST.Z. executive has adopted a late Conference remit to the effect that-war pensions should not be taken into account in estimating income for j income tax purposes. j Intending patrons of future R.W.A. I dances are earnestly requested to arrive earlier. . On Thursday evening not more tha fifteen couples of the fortyfive couples present arrived before 9 p.m. It is desired that in future the dances hould commence at S p.m. sharp and finish at 12.30. [ Returned soldiers in this district are I neglecting "Quick .March," the official j organ of the X.Z. R.B.A. The maga-

1 zinc now consists of about ninety j pages, and the annual sub. (including i postage each month) is only 7/-. Subs. may be paid to the secretary, R.S.A., Taihape.