"The Digger."

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 11, 28 May 1920, Page 8

"The Digger."

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1920. ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The Annual Conference is being held earlier this year than usual. There are no doubt reasons for holding it prior to the opening of Parliament especially in view of the "Go-Slow Policy" of the Government in giving practical effect to the provisions of the "Discharged Soldiers' s Settlement Act." The news that the Conferen.ce was being* held came as a surprise, especially when the notification was within 10 days of the Conference being held. The Invercargill Association rightly protested against this procedure and deciued to forward the following remit : — "That at least one month's notice be given of the date fixed for the Conference." I£ the early date was influenced hy the ailtitude of the Minister of Lands in limiting the amount of money available for soldier settlement, then there is no reason why some notification of the Conference could not have been given at least three weeks before, thns giving time for eountry sub-associations to have a meeting, and formulated some useful remit for consideration by the Conference. Unless the Conference supports the Invercargill remit, the position will be in effect, to disfranchise the eountry subassociations 01- at least to lead to ill-con-sidercu remits. Possibly one of the gpeatest problems the Conference will have to deal with is the land question, and time spent in discussion would be time well spent. The Land Committee have brought down a lengthy report for consideration, but the position to-day dematids that not only shall Conference formulate and adopt a land policy, but to what exteut sliall the various associations be a propelling force behind that policy. It. is time that the R.S.A. throughout New Zealand woke np and displayed more energy and made thems.el v es a real force behind the R.S.A. policy. Headquarters would also be well advised to pay more attention to the real objects for which the R.S.A. exists instead of the legal quibbles which hold up the provisions for an alteration in the scheme of organisation for twelve months. Time is passing and the R.S.A. have not unlimited time at their disposal to bring into the realm of practical effect, provisions of land settlement which will be of benefit to both the returned soldier and the Doininion's production. The present machinery for the administration of tne Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Actwasnever brought into being for that pjrpose, and a large

amount of the dissatisfaction which exists is the logical outcome of cumbersome machinery. It is not fair to the Lands Department, and is the source of dissatisfacticn amongst returned men. Ihe Land Boards have not the same facilities financially or otherwise that mercantila companies have, and this leads to endless delay. The sooner the administration of the Act is placed under the jurisdiction of a separate body, the better for all concerned. The report oi the Land Committee is one that seerns to have had careful consideration, and there is do doubt that Lieut-Col. Mitcliell will be a decided force behind it.