AUCKLAND R.S.A.

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 April 1945, Page 2

AUCKLAND R.S.A.

HOUSING AND TAXATION.

AUCKLAND, April 27

Dissatisfaction with me manner, m which the housing problem was being tackled in New Zealand, was ex---'’■nveerl at the annual meeting of the Auckland R.S.A. last night, it is seated that when the Japanese scare was on all manner of buildings were erected without delay, but now that thousands of returned servicemen are waiting for the homes, the State could only provide a lew houses a month. The position would worsen when the released war prisoners returned. . . The meeting passed, a resolution favouring Dominion-wide competition among architects for plans of a house costing between .£ 1200 and £ IuOO. A second resolution urged that the pet - centage of state rental houses allotted to ex-servicemen be increased from 50 to 75. . . A remit for the Dominion confercnc'-' on the subject oi sei vice giatui ties urged that pressure be brought to boa'’ on the Government to announce the scale of gratuities it, intended, to pay. The meeting was of the opinion that the gratuity should be on a flat rate irrespective of rank and that the payment be made on demobilisation. Another remit urged that furniture loans be exempt from sales tax. It was also suggested that ex-servicemen be exempted from payment of income tax for one year from the date of return to civilian life, and that such remission be made retrospective. Mr. A. P. Postlewaite was re-elect-ed President unopposed.