The attendance was very large, and included Mr J. Anstey, M.P. for Waitaki, and Mr E. P. Lee, M.P. for Oamaru.
The chair was occupied by Mr Y. T. Shand (chairman of the Ngapara Patriotic Committee), who explained the purpose of the meeting, and made a strong appeal for consideration for the men who had volunteered for service, and who were engaged fighting for the Empire.
They were there, he said, to raise a protest against the subdivision of Benmore, pending the termination of the war, and, if possible, to have it reserved for ballot by returned soldiers only.
Mr J. M'Culloch, who moved a resolution in favour of the reservation for returned soldiers, said he knew of young men who were away fighting, and who had previously been unsuccessful at ballots for small grazing runs.
They had satisfied the Land Board as to their suitability as tenants, but because they had volunteered for active service they had been excluded from the ballot for the Omarama runs, and they would again be deprived of their right if the ballot for Benmore were proceeded with in their absence.
That was putting a penalty on patriots, and offering a premium to shirkers.
The proposal received the cordial support of both the members of Parliament present.
The motion was carried unanimously, and the following resolutions were also passed :-''That the Government be asked to postpone the settlement of Benmore for twelve months.''
''That no person, physically fit and eligible to volunteer for military service, should be permitted to apply at the ballot for any Crown or settlement land, or to have land transferred to him till after the war, or till after the needs of the returned soldiers had been fully provided for.''
It was decided to have the resolutions sent round the district for signature before transmission to the Minister of Lands.
• Among the prisoners of war interned on Somes Island is an ex-worker on the Wellington waterfront, whose case was mentioned to a representative of the New Zealand Times by an interested friend.
The man was born in Germany, his father being Irish and his mother German, and he lived in that country until he was 12 years of age.
Then he came to New Zealand, and since that time has never been near Germany or held any communication with anybody there.
He does not even know whether his parents are still alive, and he can neither read nor write the German language, but he is not a naturalised British subject, though he has an English wife.
Some 12 months ago, when working on a coastal boat, he was taken out (so it is stated) by the authorities and came to Wellington to try to make a living on the wharves.
For nearly 11 months he worked here, all he had to do being to report himself to the police once a week, but four weeks ago he was taken in charge and removed to Somes Island.
No explanation was given. His wife asked the officers what she and her children were to do in the meantime, the reply being in the shape of advice to apply to the Charitable Aid Board.
There has been some comment concerning the treatment meted out to this man, whose family is in poor circumstances.
- ODT, 23.11.1915.
