Aims of the R.S.A.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 16, 2 July 1920, Page 15

Aims of the R.S.A.

MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION BY SOUTHLAND M.'sp.

PAY AND ALLOWANCES. (a) — That the benefits of the Financial Assistance Act which came into force in January, 1917, should be be extended to apply over the whole war period, and that the administration of the Act, should be transferred to the Repatriation Departinent. (b) — That the increased scale of officers' pay -which came into force in April, 1918, should be made uniform over the whole war period. MEDICAL TREATMENT. Treatment for war disability will be an important matter to the disabled soldior for the next fifty years. As time passes new cases of illaess directly attributable to war servke will contiually arise. Perhaps also the need will arise for the provisiou in directions not anticipated. The R.S.A. therefore desires that the Government should at once recognise and define its full responsibility and make the necessary provisions. The following requests of the R.S.A. are among the most urgent, those affecting medical administration : — (a) — That legislation be introduced at the earliest possible opportunity to make all cases (soldier or civilian) of venereal disease compulsorily notifiable. (b) — That every soldier suffering from tuberculosis should receive not less than six months' treatment in a sanatorium, and that he should not be discharged even at his own request, until his health has ha 5 reached a satisfactory condition. PENSIONS. (a) — The schedule of pensions, for specific injuries of the War Pensions Act, 1917, and the 2nd schedule thereto be regraded by the addition of' plus percentage up to 150 per cent. (that is £3 "per week), and the total percentage shall be minimum pension for total permanent disahlement, supplementary pensions and attendants' ^ensioiis to be 'over and above such rate, and the dependants' pensions to be at present rate. (b) — That in the case of a death of an ex-soldier through war disahlement, his widow or dependants be eligible in every case for a pension. CIVIL RE-ESTABLlSHMEN'T. The following are the main features of ihe claims of the R.S.A. under this liead(Ihe guiding ^ ,i>rinciples being that of "pre-war stancF&vil of living" as defined in the above.) ■' (a) — That a definite assurance he given by Parliament that the benefit of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act and the . Repatriation Act will be available so long as they are required by the soldier, and that at least 12 months' notice be given of any intention to termin^te them. (b)— Soldiers' Homes : That the responsiiblity 'for huying homes for soldiers he' transferred from the Lands Department to Ihe Repatriation Department. (c) — Immigration : That the satisfactory ad'ustment of the problem of repatriation shall be a determining factor in deciding an immigration policy, and that the general policy of a White New Zealand be adopted. LAND. 1 — The breaking up of large estates which are not being utilised to their full productive capacity. 2.— The settlement of bush lands imder satisfactory conditions of living and communication. 3— The prevention of aggregation of land. The R.S.A. has therefore defined the following general policy. (a)— That all large estates be at once scheduled and valued with a view to giving owners fair notice of the intention of the Government to resume them for purposes of settlement. (b)— That beginning with the largest estates of say value of £100,000 and over, and proceeding in order of magnitude until the demand is satisfied, such properties should be taken compulsorily by the Government and subdivided for the- purjposes of returned soldier settlement, owners having the right to retain land of reasonable value. (c) — That estates be acquired at a valuation. determined on a productivity basis and without recourse to arhitration hy a Board constituted as fol'lows : — One representative of the Government. Two representatives of the N.Z. R.S.A. Three representatives of the farming community. The following resolutions among a large number of desired reforms are deemed of immediate nrgency.

(a) — That the loan to settlers on rural lands for building a home (now £250) he increased as under : — Single man, £250; Man and wife, £400; for each child, £50 extra. SUPPLEMENTARY RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT THE RECENT SPECIAL DOMINION CONEEREN CE. 1 — That this Conference urge upon the Government the necessity for expediting the work in connection with Government Loans under the Discharged Soldiers' Set- | tlement Act. | . 2 — That no Stamp Duties be charged to soldiers on the first purchase of property , or business, these provisions to he made retrospective. - j 3 — That where soldier farmers who havr been assisted in procuring their faims, and who apply for further assistance , for the purchasing of stock, implements, , etc. , the advance be not made a charge on ; the land as a second mortgage, but be i taken over the" stock only. | 4. — That the lack of capital should not , be a bar to soldiers of sufficient experience desirous of taking up land, and that the Minister of Lands.be requested to give instructions to Lands Boards, that lack of capital should not prevent any such man taikng up land, and that in such cases the prcvision providing for payment of the half year's rent shall not apply. 5 — That where the lease of grazing leases or pastoral runs expire no renewals be granted provided returned soldiers are prepared to take them up. 6. — That in the cases of outlying bloeks, one or more telephones be installed as best for convenience of settlers. The cost of the instalments of such telephones should be put down to public expense, and the cost of same loaded on the settlement. 7. — That in all cases where a settler is placed on land after its productive period of the year, the half year's rent be remittcd. P — That six weeks' option on the purchase of land and hottses be the maximum period of option by the Lands Department. PENSIONS. 1. — That W7ar Pensions Appeal Board eonsisting of three members, one to be an S.M., who shall he chairman, and two registered medical practitioners, one to be nominated by the N.Z. R.S.A. Such members to hold office for th'e term of three years,, be constituted. Such Appeal Board to hear and determine any appeals from the decision of the present Pension Board, which shall in every case carry injo effect the decision of the Appeal Board. 2. — That pensions granted to children of deceased soldiers should in all cases be' paid ruitil such children attain the age of eighteen years. 3 — That the allowance of 5s per diem as pajid hy the Defence Department to limbless men whilst attending the limbless repair factory is inadequate, and that this allowance at least he double. 4 : — That the wife and children of partially disabled men shall receive the same percentage of pension as the husband. MISCELLANEOUS. 1-— That April 25 (Anzac Day), be a satutory holiday as a day of commemoration. 2 — Stringent anti-profiteering legislation be brought forward and passed by Parliament. 3. — -That the period soldiers are in hospital in New Zealand should be included fo* gratuity purposes in their period of active ser.vice. 4 — That the Royal Commission to inquire into the administration a$r] disposal of the war funds of the Dominion which the Association has previously pressed for, be set up without delay.