Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1923. CONSIDERED RELIEF

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 27, 1 August 1923, Page 4

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1923. CONSIDERED RELIEF

Convinced that some soldier settlers are unable to carry the present load of rent and mortgage interest, the Government, in our opinion, has adopted the only sensible method of lightening the load. Each settler's application is to be dealt with upon its merits. There will be no rough-and-ready general reduction in valuations. Such a reduction would afford speedy relief to some settlers; but it would have all the disadvantages of a uniform plan applied to difficulties which are far from uniform. If the reduction were based upon the requirements of the soldiers who have done reasonably well it would be insufficient for those who have had greater difficulties ; and if it were based upon the demands of the most needy it would present the prosperous with an increment to which they would' have no claim. By considering each case upon its merits the Government will have full scope for applying appropriate relief. Uus method will involve much work, and possibly the' completion of the task will be long delayed, bub in the end the work will have been done thoroughly. Short cuts in such business as this would inevitably lead to mistakes and the necessity for reconsideration; The methods proposed for applying relief appear to be both comprehensive and sound. Soldiers who hold laud under lease or license may apply for reductions in valuations, involving rent reductions. Those who have bought land from private owners and are indebted to the Government by way of mortgage will be entitled to a reduction of the mortgage if the facts justify it. We do not see how the plan of relief could possibly have been extended beyond this. Soldiers whose land' deahngs and financial arrange- '■ ments have been conducted wholly with private owners and financiers cannot now claim relief from the Mate. To attempt to grant it to them would lead to hopeless complications. As it is, the task of assisting settlers who have had dealings with private persons as well as the State will be one of considerable complexity. The Government has decided that where such methods have been followed the private person must first be eliminated from tlie transaction 1 and m order that this may be done there is provision for acquiring tne interests of second mortgagees upon terms mutually agreed upon. This is eminently fair and reasonable. The State "cannot be expected to reduce its first mortgage if the result is to bo only that the second mortgagee and not the soldier is benefited. Negotiation will admit of arrangements which will b e j ust t0 a jj parfcies borne objection may be raised to the suspension of arrears for ten years, instead of cancellation, even when a reduction in valuation or mortgage is granted ; biit as reductions are to be retrospective to Ist July, 1921, there is an automatic cancellation of two years' arrears. Where a reduction in the mortgage or valuation is not held to be warranted, the suspension is in itself a concession which will give the settler a breathing space. We have no doubt that all necessitous cases will be covered by the reduction provisions, and if the settlers make good in ten years' time they will be able and willing to discharge any arrears which may then be owing. District committees are certainly the best-qualified bodies to undertake the detailed investigation, and if the men -who have served upon the inquiry boards are persuaded to act ori these committees the knowledge tliey have already gained will enable them to discharge their tasks speedily and efficiently. In order, however, that there may be uniformity some coordinating authority is required, and this is provided in the Dominion Board. . It is to be noted that this Board lias complete power to act upon the recommendations of the district committees. No Ministerial or Cabinet approval is required. This is a provision which will avoid much difficulty, since it will help to keep the business out of the field of politics. The Gbvernmenfc has made a sincere aud cojtfaseojis Attempt to. 4eal mtk

the problem. If other parties in the House approach the task in the same honest spirit, and above all keep it free from party wrangling, difficulties will be quickly overcome.