HOMES FOR SOLDIERS.

Evening Star, Issue 17032, 1 May 1919, Page 3

HOMES FOR SOLDIERS.

TO THE EDITOR. gj r Much has been written about land for soldiers, and rightly so; but are homes not equally or more necessary'?_ Fo-r one soldier who wants to make a living on the land there axe a dozen to 20 who simply want a home. Should the State not provide it? Suitable areas of land near the centre* should be laid out as garden cities for soldier*' homes. They should have first choice of the sites, and the balance then be offered to the public. This would really assist men in a substantial manner arid also help the general community. The housing question is becoming acute,"and the soldiers' demand is making it worse, as, with Government money, properties are changing hands at hisrh prices. In consequence many householders have been turned out of their rented homes and have suffered inconvenience. The Government money should be fif it was not so intended by the Act) fo" the provision of new homes, but it appear* to have been diverted from this course. . The greatest drawback is the seeming cur.tontmcnt of the •community to settle down to a few years' talk about schemes for repatriation," while the clamant need is for some practical assistance that will operate immediately. Nothing would give betto: assistance jukl relief to the soldiers and the community in general than the building of 500 to i.,000 houses of suitable sizes near each centre; work to be commenced in June, 1919, and the whole to l>3 finished bv June. 1920. Each soldier should have the right to an advance of from £750 to £1.500, the Government to see that the money was invested in the property to its full value, they to hold 1 the mortgages on a deferred payment extend-' iuf over 35 years, tho usual mortgagee's margin to be" dispensed with and perfect freedom given to soldiers the same as tocivilians. The only conditions should be the payment of interest and sinking fund and the maintenance of the property in good order. No Government brands should be insisted on; each individual to use his own taste, subject to a standard of quality. Necessity compelled us to find everything for war purposes. The same necessity should be recognised for repatriation purposes. Delay should not be tolerated in the matter. —I am, etc., Get a Move On. April 29.