REHABILITATION LOANS

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24736, 29 November 1945, Page 2

REHABILITATION LOANS

Sir, —Our boys returning from overseas ' and trying to buy houses are having quite a time of it. The rehabilitation loan is “such a help” to those who can get one. These days, with so few houses on the market, first in gets house; but the rehabilitation loan takes up to five weeks to go through the maze of red tape. Surely the district officer could have authority to grant the loan and State Advances could confirm it. As things are, it all smacks of charity. We are hearing over the a'ir, “Buy a brick and be a brick”; but I think the Returned Services’ Association would do well to interest itself In the loan delay and heave a few bricks in the right direction. and in ail good time their building bricks would take good care of themselves.—Yours, etc.,

WONDERING, November 16, 1945. [Commenting on this letter the District Rehabilitation Officer says that the writer is very misleading in suggesting that loans take up to five weeks to be approved. The average time is something less than a fortnight. " 'Wondering' apparently does not realise that there are certain formalities, referred to by him as 'red tape,' to be observed in arranging mortgages, whether the loans are obtained through the Rehabilitation Department or through private sources. There is no question of charity. a,s all loans are dealt with on a strictly business basis. Admittedly, the housing position is somewhat difficult, but the fact that up to the end of .September last 880 housing loans had been granted in the Christchurch district indicates that the situation is not qujte so serious as it might be. In addition to loans, there are approximately 400 returned servicemen occupying State rental houses in this district. If the writer is a returned serviceman and he thinks he has a genuine complaint, the District Rehabilitation Officer will personally investigate his case should he care to call."]