RETURNED SOLDIERS ASSOCIATION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3517, 1 July 1920, Page 3

RETURNED SOLDIERS ASSOCIATION.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE! STOPPAGE OF ADVANCES. RESOLUTION OF PROTEST. A well-attended of the Committee of the Tafejk' and District Ketumed Soldiers' Association was held last night for the purpose of considering the position which has arisen on account of the reply received by the Dominion executive to the proposals placed before the Minister of Lands in connection with matters arising out of the recent deputation to the Prime Minister and Minister of Lands with reference to the stoppage of advances to discharged soldiers under .the D.S.S. Act. The executive sub-committee wrote as follows to the Minister of Lands in connection with the matter, and asked that the proposals be submitted to Cabinet: —

"As a result of the Conferences between yourself and the representatives of the N.Z. R.S.A., the executive subcommittee of the Association begs to put on record the following statement of the position: It is understood: — (1) That all applications under the Act will be received and considered.

(2) That" all applications for loans* for the purpose of building new houses (and, if neeessary, for the purchase of the see'tion also) will be approved by the Land Board and moneys made available by the Government in the same way a s before the 22nd April last, i.e., "special circumstances" will not be taken into account, the sole question being one of fair and reasonable value.

(3) That all applications for loans for the purpose of buying houses already built will in "special circumstances" be approved by the Land Boards and moneys made available by the Government as before 22nd April last.

The executive subcommittee submits that "Special Circumstances" are to include the following cases: —

(a) Applications already approved. (b) Applications made at any time in pursuance of a contract entered into or option taken on or before 22nd April last. iSCkasL ..Jfc.

'" fc) Applications made for the purchase of a house by a married discharged soldier who has no freehold house and no lease of household premises for more than one year from April 22, 1920. (d) Any other application in respect of which there will be undue hardship to the soldier, or to his dependents, if the loan is not granted. It is understood that these proposals are made to tide even any difficulties that may exist until Parliament has provided sufficient funds to enable the Department to carry on the administration of the D.S.S. Act as before 22nd April last. We need hardly point out that paragraphs 1,2, and 3of this memo have already been agreed to by yourself, and that you have also agreed to the "special circumstances" as set out in paragraphs (a) and (b). We understand, also, that you have agreed to the pfinciple embodied in paragraphs (c) and (d)< The following reply was received from the Minister' of Lands:—

'Tmmediatgjly on receipt of your letter of the sth instant in regard to the above, I submitted the points raised to the Under Secretary of Lands for a Departmental report and for a legal expression of opinion as to how far they could be given effect to in view of the small amount now remaining in the fund. The papers were returned to me yesterday, when I brought them before Cabinet for consideration. After going very fully into the matter in all its aspects, I was directed by Cabinet to inform you that it cannot see its way to commit the Government to the suggestions made, for the following reasons: —

(1) To give effect to them would entail a commitment upon the fund beyond the, authority provided by Parliament last session. Such a course is impossible as Cabinet cannot anticipate the action of Parliament with respect to such matters. (2) In the administration of this important branch 6T the Lands Department the discretionary powers granted to its administrative officers cannot be restricted in any way if the transaction of the business in an efficient manner is to be maintained.

I am instructed to advise you further for the information of your Association that all applications presented ■will be received and eoHsidered on the merits of «ach case. Until Parliament; meets and decides what amount tan be allocated for such advances during the current, financial year, the decision, of Cabinet to curtail rccommendaiious! must be given effect to as the fundi at present available demand such curf tailment. It is unnecessary for me to assure! yon that Cabinet and the Minister if! kGharge of this branch of the Govera-J Jfcent's repatriation activities is in full! •ympathy -with the returned soldier,!

and ever£tlriijnßssible fill be done to allocate the #|jj amount now remaining in the fujd lithe be|t advantage.'.' Mr Lenihal Mdainedf that he was a member of tjiejftputa.tion Which waited on the Prime Minister and Minister of Lands, and ||| interpreted Mr Guthrie's statement,!then to mean that he did not approvfe of the principle of purchasing hoUß.es for returned soldiers, as it did not tend to relieve the housing problejb. die felt sure that Mr Guthrie wis not referring at the time to the 'Jjlmporary cessation of loans on account of lack of finance, but that the Minister's intention was to convey that is future loans for the purchase of houses would would be granted-in special cases. During the discussion, it was generally agreed that, those soldiers who had not yet had an opportunity to benefit under the D.S.S. Act should not be debarred from benfitting in the same way as those who had had earlieopportunities. Mr Lenihan moved and Mr McDermott seconded- the following jresojlntion, which was carried unanimously: "That this meeting, having taken into consideration the statements of the Prime Minister and Minister of Lands regarding the finance of the Dominion and the possible effect of the continuance of the present scheme of advances under the D.S.S. Act in further increasing the price of land, still considers that the only equitable and honourable course open to Parliament is (a) to make the benefits of the D.S.S. Act available to all soldiers at present entitled who have recently returned, been lately released from hospital, or have just completed their training under the repatriation scheme; and (b) to provide that any loss incurred in so doing shall be borne by the countrv as a whole."