STATE ADVANCES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 156, 13 April 1928, Page 6

STATE ADVANCES.

APPLICATIONS LONG DEFERRED. THE DEPARTMENT’S ARREARS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 12. For some years the State Advances Department lias been endeavouring to catch up on its loan applications, but inquiries made by 31 r 31c Co mbs. who, as member for Lyttelton, is interested in both town and country borrowers, show that it is now dealing with advances to settlers’ applications made in August, 1926. “ As they proceed they are getting a little further behind,” said 3lr McCombs to a representative of the “Lyttelton Time's,” for the reason that in August, 1926, applications were rather heavier than can be dealt with from the financial resources of any one month. (Doubtless when November and December. 1926, are reached faster progress will be made. Judging by the Finance hfinister’s statement to Parliament last session regarding the delay in disposing of loan applications, the Department has got further behind since that time. “Another interesting development, is that a number of farmers who had loan applications on the advances to settlers list, some of them very 'png dated, are not yet receiving attention, though more recent applications under the rural advances scheme are producing results in loans granted. There is an element of unfairness ill this, end it somewhat offsets the advantages of the new scheme. I find that, -icntrarv to what is sometimes .-uggertrl, tne Department deals with appucatrons strictly in line with the order _n. priority, and that no town is getting preference.” '