REPATRIATION

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16472, 15 March 1919, Page 11

REPATRIATION

*" LOANS TO SOLDIERS. Tho AYellington District Repatriation Board' continues to lincLjthat many applicants lor loans for business purpose" fail to i»alav the, necessary enquiries regarding tlie businesses under otter to thorn. wTiili other difficulties are presented. , At Tuesday's meeting of tlie Board, over which 2V! r T. Sliailer W eston presided, twenty-ouo applications for loans were .considered. lividence was shown of attempts by vendors to -exploit til© soldier, who, of course, lias to. s"®P u y to the Government the amount paid tho business. ]t was stated'that appar-' ently veudors had in some cases conceived/the idea that money was being advanced indiscriminately by the Department, -and r.n attempt was being made to play ono prospective 6oldierbuyer against ■ the other. Tho Board was fully alive to the position, and would not neglect any precautions to safeguard the soldier and the State. On the other hand, . there were cases which. showed careful* consideration and sound business judgment, and where it was felt that the applicant was entitled to the assistance of the Sfate, loans had been made. Mr Batten (district officer) stated that a great numbor of applications had been received for loans, to' establish taxi-cab and motor carrying businesses. So far no grant had actually been made for this purpose. Special reasons would have to be shown before _ tho BoaTd would assist a man in starting it taxi business, since it- was "non-produc-tive, and already overcrowded.