REPATRIATION COMMITTEES.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1920, Page 6

REPATRIATION COMMITTEES.

SHOULD THEY BE ABOLISHED? At Monday evening's meeting of the New Plymouth Repatriation Committee a circular letter was received from the Dunedin Repatriation Board, str.ting that in'view of the fact that precedents had now been established for most of the work of repatriation, and that the work had become largely routine, it was felt that the necessity of a large body had now vanished, and that the work could be carried on by the district and other office staffs with a small advisory committee. The letter suggested that the various repatriation boards or committees might make a recommendation to the Ministerial Board to this effect. The letter provoked a good deal of discussion.

Captain Hartnell, as representative for the Returned Soldiers' Association, said that the returned soldiers were fully satisfied with the work of the repatriation committees, and looked to an extension, rather than a curtailment, of their activities. They felt they had been getting a fair deal from the committees, in whom they had every confidence.

Mr. T. Furlong doubted whether the time had yet come to abolish the committees. who had mainly he?n responsible for the success of 'repatriation in the Dominion. This fact was generally Hcognised.

Mr. E. Whittle thought that it was for the Government to giye a direction in regard fo the abolition of committees rather than any particular committee.

The chairman (Liicut.-Colonel Wostrn) said, in his opinion, it would be a mistake to reduce the committees as suggested. for experience had shown the advantage of having committees representative of different interests, especially when it came to the consideration of applications for loans. He felt certain there was still a good deal of wort hefore them.

Mr. T. C. List said he would lil-» +>,« activities of the committees extended so as to help in the review and consideration of pensions, and in connection with the housing nnij securing of land for returned soldiers. Vhis would entail an alteration in the personnel of the committees by bringing in more representatives of farming interests. There was no .question this important part of repatriation required speeding up. The Land Board? were doing good work in this connection, but the machinery was insufficient, as well as cumbrous, and results were not being secured quickly eifough, hence the present dissatisfaction amongst returned men wanting houses and. land. " After further discussion, a motion wa.s carried opposing the Otago Board's suggestion. " It was also decided to forward the following motion to the Ministerial Board of Repatriation: That in regard th the suggestion of the Otago Repatriation Board for the abolition, or reduction of, Repatriation Boards and committees, this committee is of opinion that the time is not opportune for such action. This committee, on the contrary, feel that the'scone of the committees' work could be enlarged with advantage to returned soldiers and benefit to the country in the direction of expediting the housing and. lard settlement of exRoldiers, also of helping in the review I consliJefstlon of n«(Mtnn«,