SETTING UP HOMES

Evening Star, Issue 23973, 26 August 1941, Page 6

SETTING UP HOMES

RETURNED SERVICEMEN FREE-OF-INTEREST LOAHS FOR FURNITURE (Special.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 26. Details of the Government’s scheme for assisting discharged servicemen to purchase furniture were announced by tbo Minister of Finance (Mr Nash) today. Ho said there would bo numbers of men, especially those marrying on return to the Dominion, who would bo In need of some assistance for setting up house. “ Furniture loans are one of the best ways of assisting returned men,” he said, “ being a great help in enabling them to settle down in reasonably comfortable circumstances, where they can follow their occupations and bring up families. The Government will help by making to approved applicants free-of-interest loans up to £100.” The Minister further explained that, as in the case of loans for tools of trade, the man would be expected to purchase the furniture himself if he had the means. The applicant must be a discharged serviceman, whether sailor, soldier, or airman, must be married. or about to bo married, or else be a widower with one or more children. Widows of deceased servicemen wore also eligible, provided they had one or more children —so also was a substantially dependent widowed mother. The Minister said that the State Advances Corporation would administer the loans on a hire-purchase basis, and every effort would be made to safeguard borrowers from exploitation. ° “ There will bo throe classes of borrowers who may receive rebates of the principal—a totally disabled man in necessitous circumstances may receive an amount up to £3O by way of grant, and only the balance on loan; a serviceman’s widow with one or more children under 16 and in necessitous circumstances may receive a similar concession. This means that those in need of special consideration will receive it, and there will be some encouragement to returned men to make a home and bring up families.”