R.S.A. NEWS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3529, 16 July 1920, Page 6

R.S.A. NEWS

IMMIGRATION.

Attention has been drawn to the fact that J. nlimber of ex-Iniperial SOl- - without. mezuls ‘nave bven arriving in New Zealand, and that many of them are becoming a charge upon the -patriotic societies of the Dominion. It is ‘l'egl'ettable that Such should be the 0:15.. \=.-lien the whole policy of imrnigi-atiuza could be so easily re‘CODSi..'Li\".‘i'<‘a and be made of benefit to the er:-Iniperiai men and to the connt~.._v as a whole_' The Returned S0l(1lCl:~' Association, at the recent Conference, expressed a vefy decided opinion regarding this phase of the imrnigizaiioii policy, and it was then stated that ex-Imperial men had arrived lime, and their War service disabilities were of such a nature that it was physically impossible for some of them to make good. These men would never have been immigrants to New Zealand had the representatives of the New Zealand Government in London done their duty. If the Government is prepared to aglniit such men, then it is clear that the duty of the Government to look after them when they arrive here; and it is entirely ‘wrong in principle that such men should have to rely on any assistance from patriotic societies, the funds of which bodies were not subscribed for such a purpose. R.S.‘A'._‘ has formulated a. policy‘ which has for its object. the inrmigration of ex-Imperial soldiers who are not physically incapable of earning a. living when they arrive here. The Association has also expressed itself as being in favour of the benefits of the Repatriation and D.S.A. Acts being extended to such men, provided that. portion of the cost is borne by the Imperial Government. At the present time immigration is not in the best interests of the Dominion unless the right kind of men are sentpout. The housing problem is acute, and th'e°'tl"ouble is said to be due to the sliovrtage ofolabour, combined with theeveiport of timber from the country. The timber dithculty can be remedied, and if the immigration of carpenters was provided for the housing problem could be solved. So far as acrzonrniodation is concerned, the Dominion is not prepared to receive an influx of immigrants, and the first need _is for carpenters and a genuine effort to solve the housing problem. We may require some thousands of workers in New Zealand, but at the present time

our most ul'{:r-nt need is to make arrangements for their :Icconlmodation.

PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

A number of patriotic societies in New Zeznland 71:n’o decided to distribute the balance of "their funds "amongst the retul'n<:d soldiers in the

districts in which tlie funds were

raised. Other societieé favour vari- , ous schemes, and a few are jl_l__ favour of handing over tho balance ‘of their funds to a central body. The ultimate disfiosal of the balance of such funds is the fffost difficult problem which the mrious patriotic bodies ‘have to face at present. A uniform

policy from the 21u"tset would have been desirable and effective, but on gecount of the difi‘e'l'ent bollius having

already taken definite action along diiferelxt lines, uniformity cannof be

secured at this stage_ Probably the

best policy would hémo IJCTITL for all {he socir-ties ‘to have pooled their

funds. and then have made a distribution :Immlgst the I'etul‘ned men generally. The men who enlisted in one (listrict. would ha\:e '.reCeived exactly the same fz'e:u‘nlenf ‘as the men who enlisted in any other disfriet. At present t}l‘.:l'€ is no such equality of treatment, nor can ‘any such equality be attzziuod at the present. stage. The balance of ‘(hp funds should cer‘laiuly not be used to relieve the

Go\'el‘nm(,-nf of any of its l'(‘S]_l()llSibili-I ties towzn-«ls Hm «lis:Lble(l soldiers or! their depoxxdztnfs, but the time has ,2 al‘l‘iV’oll when the nltin2a.lo disposal of; the funds will h-.m- to xwvive <::n'f%.-i ful QODSld(}l'fliiOll. The "{3‘i'oblenl 13' such ll xTii'Ticv_ft «:~m- f‘n:it the solution is goingf to be re.<l:olx.<il.>‘.e for .~'mn(-3‘ aliard thinking. ‘.~\SSISTIiT) :I7AS>.7.+\(:‘rlllH. The followin;__; is a copy of :x lctteri received from the ()fll'cm~«in-Cliarg_,re. Adininistration re assisted passagesfor the wives and flancees of exsoldiers: “‘I have to advise you that it haé been decided to extend the date for receiving nominations of both soldiers’ wives and fiancees until 31st December next‘. this to be ‘the final date. Soldiers concerned should‘ therefore be ‘advised to cominunicatei direct with the Under-Secretary, ‘De-i partment of Immigration, \Vollingt.on, prior ‘to 31st December “next.” The amount to be paid by the soldier fof the passage of his fiancee fiom England has been fixed as follows: First class. £57; se(=o.lld c-lass, £39; third class (Cabin with two berths), £ls; third class (cabin with fonr berths), £ls. The balance of ztlmipassage money is, contributed by

the Imn1ig1‘:::ic»11 and D01"-\=ncu De partments.

PROTECTION FOR SOLDIER-S‘

“I would point out that the provisions for the protection of returned soldiers from eviction from I‘elll'9[l properties are contained in legislation which expiresion 3151: August next. As you will probably know, I h'a‘v'e already given notice of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, and this will contain a clause extending the legislation referred to for a further period of twelve Inontlls."—'l.‘he Prime Minister in reply to;~.a resolution from the recent Col3*fol.'enco.