LAND AND STATE ADVANCES

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 294, 27 August 1926, Page 12

LAND AND STATE ADVANCES

WAR VETERANS’ REQUEST A deputation from the South African Veterans’ Association brought under the notice of the Government last night the question of granting to South African veteran's preference in the land ballot, and in respect to State advances. The Ministers present were the Minister ot Finance (Hon. W. D. Stewart), Minister of Defence (Hon. F. J. Rolleston), and Minister of Lands (Hon. A. D. McLeod). In reply to the representations the Minister of Lands said he was sure that no South African veteran would ask for preference over the soldiers of the Great War Voices: No. The Minister said tliat that account bad been closed down in 1922, after 25 millions had been spent on repatriation, and it was hoped there would be a million a year coming in to further assist those soldiers and also the veterans of South Africa. But as things had gone it bad taken the Government all its time to collect enough money to meet ths interest on the funds borrowed. They had, however, been able to further help the soldiers to finance the improvements to their holdings in many cases. Soldiers suffering a 5G per cent, disability, and also T.B. men, came under the settlement scheme, no matter how hard up they might be, but at present it would be impossible to carry it any turther without extended borrowing. That was a matter for the Minister of Finance. The Minister of Finance declared that the Advance Board exhibited the utmost liberality in dealing with difficult cases regardless of security, and was reaching out in every direction to. help, but he did not think the priority" suggested could very well be allowed. Each case must be judged on its merits. The Minister said he would talk the matter over with the superintendent, and see what light he viewed it in. It seemed a pity questions raised by the deputations that day had been kept in abeyance for 25 years. The Minister of Lands promised t» look up any promises made by his predecessor with regard to assistance being given to the South African returned soldiers under the land settlement scheme. He had yet to learn that the

Government would give other than favourable treatment to any descrying case after the men of the Great War had been looked after. A member of the deputation: We have been 25 years tn the wilderness, and it looks as though we might have to wait 40. The deputation also brought up the case of soldiers dying in distressed circumstances, and who but for the association would have to be buried as paupers. X The Minister of Defence asked for particulars of the matter and these were furnished.