WANTS OF SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1919, Page 8

WANTS OF SOLDIERS.

A DEPUTATION TO PARLIAMENT. ! GOVERNMENT'S SYMPATHY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A deputation from the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Conference waited on members of Parliament this morning. Mr. Lang, in the temporary absence of Mr Massey, was in the chair. The deputation presented the demands arrived at by the conference regarding land repatriation and allowances. The speakers were the President (Dr. Boxer), and Messrs Long, Mitchell, Colquohoun, and Seadley. The Hon. D. H. GiiMirie, replying, said the question of a quicker administration policy in settlement had not been neglected. A soldier who wished to inspect a section need be under no expense, because his expenses would be paid. The country must take a risk in settling the soldiers on the land, but it was a dangerous doctrine to preach that the soldier, no matter what happened, must be supported by the Government. All available laud would be offered to soldiers first. For years the Government had endeavored honestly to,' stop aggregation, but time after time the provisions made had proved useless. A new clause had now been completed which he hoped would be effective. It was now proposed to take land from the aggregator at the Government valuation, plus 10 per cent. He denied that fit men'were compelled to return to their pre-war occupations. He agreed that it would be reasonable to ask that the allowance of £3O for equipping a home should be increased to £75, but he considered that to press for an increase in loans for business from £3OO to £3OO would involve a risk of the system breaking down under its own weight. Th'e Hon. J. G. Coates said that in reference to the proposal to make the increase in officers' pay retrospective', the matter had been considered and ?t was decided the matter should stand, Mr Massey said the discussion was useful and cleared up many misappre< hensions. The Government had nevei hesitated to do all possible for returned soldiers and they would continue todo so.