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REHABILITATION NEEDS

POWERS IN FINANCE BILL DISCUSSED MONEY FOR PURCHASE OF LAND (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 20. Reference to rehabilitation needs was made in the debate on the Finance Bill in the House of Representatives this afternoon by the Minister of Rehabilitation (the Hon. C. F. Skinner). Mr Skinner said that the reason for taking powers to make more money available was that more money was required than formerly for various matters, including the purchase of land for returned men. The provisions of the bill did not affect expenditure, but provided a wider margin for expenditure until the estimates could be brought down and money voted. Mr Skinner said that 150,000 acres of improved land had been purchased, and would be cut up immediately for the settlement of returned servicemen. Already 87 properties had been balloted for. Of these 30 were not fully developed, and the successful settlers were working for wages reading and fencing, and would take over as farmers when the land was sufficiently developed. It will not be possible to complete charges against thisJand until the necessary improvements were made. No man would be settled on land that was not sufficiently developed to provide a decent living and meet all commitments. As far as housing was concerned, about 25 per cent, of returned men wanted homes either to rent or buy, and the only limiting factor at the present time was manpower for the production of materials and building. That would be corrected by the return of another 20,000 men, he hoped, before the end of the year. Those men would accentuate the position at first by wanting homes, Mf Skinner said, but on the other hand they would supply the labour required for the production of building materials and homes.

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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19450721.2.64

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24624, 21 July 1945, Page 8

Word Count
293

REHABILITATION NEEDS Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24624, 21 July 1945, Page 8

REHABILITATION NEEDS Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24624, 21 July 1945, Page 8