SETTLEMENT BAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 May 1943, Page 2

SETTLEMENT BAN

ON CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS AND MILITARY DEFAULTERS. PROPOSED BY NEW ZEALAND R. S. A. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “That conscientious objectors and military defaulters be debarred from purchasing land or houses till all returned men of the present war are rehabilitated, always provided that this shall not apply to men who have served in the forces of the United Nations,” was a remit approved by the Dominion conference of' the Returned Services Association. An unsuccessful attempt was made to include Asiatics and southern Irish in the proposed ban. Mr H. H. S. Westmacott, delegate from the Otorohanga association, which had sent forward the remit, said Asiatics were included because recently Hindus had been financed by a bank to buy some of the best land in that district before returned soldiers had had an opportunity to obtain it. They-. t were of the non-fight-caste; .there was. no feeling against the Sikhs in the district. Southern Irish had been included since the remit had come to the conference, but he supported their inclusion. It was said they were receiving exemption from military service. The president, Mr Perry, M.L.C., said that, since the Armed Forces Appeal Boards had not upheld the appeals lodged by southern Irish on the ground that they were citizens of a neutral country, they must be either in the Army or' in defaulters’ detention. Mr L. C. Logan (Franklin) supported the inclusion of Asiatics, referring to the purchase of land by Asiatics at Pukekohe.

Mr N. Colquhoun (Oamaru) defended the southern Irish, and another delegate said their inclusion would be an affront to many worthy people in New Zealand. An interjection that southern Ireland was his native land was made by one delegate. , Mr F. C. Allerby (Wellington) asked if the people referred to were not liable for military service, and warned the conference to be careful, and Mr D. W. Russell (Christchurch) pointing out that Indians had fought with New Zealanders in Tunisia, described the proposal as absurd. . . .