RETURNED SOLDIERS' REQUIREMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1917, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS' REQUIREMENTS.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS. SYMPATHETIC REPLIES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A deputation from the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association waited on the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, Sir James Allen and J;r. Herdman today. to place before them matters affecting the interests of men who have served at the front and have returned , to (he Dominion. The deputation was introduced by Cdptain Pitt, who urged that the question of settling returned soldiers on the land must be taken in hand straight away, otherwise the position would he serious. He emphasised (he fact that the deputation represented the whole of the returned soldiers in New Zealand. Members of the deputation advocated the appointment of a Minister to deal only with the affairs of returned soldiers: the estahli-imient of a scheme of repatriation; additional representation on (lie 'Pensions Board; an increased grant for settling soldiers on the land; the establishment of a central committee to administer the patriotic funds; increased clothing allowance; the establishment in different centres of branches ot the Discharged Soldiers' Information Bupartment. * Complaint was made, also, that men who had not seen the tirinr; line were appointed to positions in England instead nf men who had seen active service; nlso, that men who had enlisted two years after the war commenced were being promoted over the heads of men who joined the forces when (lie war com- | menoed. J The. Prime Minister, replying, stated that Hip Government was anxious as far as possible to redress the grievances oi ] the returned soldiers. Parliament and the people wanted to do everything they could to assist the Returned Soldiers Association. As to the department oi repatriation that, had been mentioned the department of which the Hon. A. L Herdman, had charge had been partieui liirly successful in finding employment for returned soldiers, and if it were necessary to extend the department's functions, lie thought the. Government woulc be prepared to meet the proposal. Tin fact that four Ministers of the Crowr were there to meet the deputation show ed that the Government was anxious t( do what it could for returned soldiers As to soldiers and settlement on tin land, an Act to provide financial assist auec was to be brought down this ses sion. but. the Government could noi promise that the £750 grant would ap ply in every case. Mr. Massey sug gested that the Government should bi able to pluec returned soldiers in home: on the same terms as wore now in oper at.ion in connection with workers' homes Bl"cks of land could be purchased, and he believed, could be made a success. Sir Joseph Ward said he, along witl the other members of the Government was anxious to do all possible for re turned soldiers. Sir James Allen, neaking on the sub ject of repatriation, said he believed tin problem changed from day to day. ant lie thought it 'would be wise for thi executive to have a. private discussior with Ministers. A great deal of edu cative work was being done in Euglani with regard to returned soldiers, and i was quite possible that many of ou: men would come 'back with very valu able experience. How that expcrienc' had yet to be developed remained to bi considered. Ho would bo glad, if pos sible, to have a medical man on th Pensions Board who would represent re turned soldiers. As to the supply o mufti for returned soldiers, lie pointe< out that the Government returned a soldier's mufti to his home on his going into camp. They clothed him while in camp and on service, and then gave him 80s for a mufti suit on discharge, besides leaving him a very considerable part of his equipment. Men on furlough would, generally speaking, retain their seniority with regard to promotions. The proportion of commissions to men who returned had considerably increased. Territorial officers had been warned that they must go through a course of training," and some of them might have to go io 'tho ranks. There were a large number of men in the officers' training camp in England, but he did not think it would be a good thing for the New Zealand non-commissioned officer to he shut out of the possibilities of a commission. It was not quite right to'shut the door on the man who lmd not been to the front. Mr. Herdman ,-aid the discharged soldiers department was fairly complete throughout New Zealand. The work done was remarkable, but ho suggested branches might, work- in with the Discharged Soldiers' Association. In regard to repatriation, he said the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department had been fairly successful in getting employment for men, and only about 160 were now seeking work. Much of the work, however., was of a temporary character, and ho urged that discharged soldiers should seek to learn a (rade which would make them practically independent. Facilities to that end were provided at technical colleges, and some 50 or GO men were now engaged in that way, and were heing paid £1 a week while undergoing training. He was in favor of making use of the existing institutions rather than spending a big sum of money on establishing a huge technical institution at one central point.