RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 17, 9 July 1920, Page 3

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

FUNDS FOR SETTLEMENT. One of the items provided for in the Imprest Supply Bill is half a million for returned soldiers' settlement. A host of questions were asked in the House on this matter. Members wanted to know whether this amount would be anything like sufficient, and the assurance was given them that it was only temporary provision, until such time as the loan Bill "could be put through, and the assurance was given also that in the Loan BiJl adequate finance would be provided. Mr Mitchell was one of the most active pleaders on behalf of the soldiers. His inquiry was as to whether this sum of money would provide for resumption of normal activities, or only for a continuance of slow advances such as had been the recent practice since the curtaihnent had been made necessary. The Minister of Lands repeated his aseurances that there had been no stoppage

of grants, but only an enfonced slowing up on account of the moneys nearing exhaustion. The policy of the Department had to be to conserve existing funds for applications already gi'anted, and for the use of soldiers already settled, and for improvements and stock, and other such purposes. He said that the half millioc. would be immediately available on tbe passage of the Bill, and thajt this siun, with the considerable amount in hand, would be amply sufficent for requrements imtil the House could have an opportunity of saying in the Loan Bill how much the country ought to provide for future fianance for this purpose. The Minister mentioned that some land boards had misinterpreted the instnctions of the Government as to tapering off the repatriation scheme. They had ceased to recommend grants. This had not been intended by the Government, anu the boards had been dirCcted to consider each application on its merits. This arrangement continued, but applications had to be handled in the order in which they were received, and preference had to be given to men who had entered into obligations. The £500,000 now being voted would enable the Department to carry on until Parliament dealt with the whole question. The scheme would proceed in the future according to what Parliament thought that the country could afford for the settlement of returned soldiers.