AID TO SOLDIERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20137, 5 January 1940, Page 6

AID TO SOLDIERS

OVERSEAS SERVICE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MEETING OBLIGATIONS BOARD ESTABLISHED (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, announced to-day on behalf of the Government that, in continuation of the policy of providing as fully as possible for the needs of members of New Zealand’s Second Expeditionary Force, a Soldiers’ Financial Assistance Board had been set up to deal with applications received from soldiers who go overseas and who may be in need of financial assistance to meet obligations for which their military pay Is inadequate. The board will, it is proposed, utilise the organisation of the State Advances Office and will comprise the Secretary to the Treasury, either one of the joint managing directors of the State Advances Corporation as chairman, Messrs. J. G. Barclay, M.P., Whangarei, D. Barnes, Timaru, H. E. Combs, M.P., Wellington, T. L. Macdonald, M.P., Mataura, and Ernest W. Hunt, Wellington. Rent and Interest It is intended that assistance will be afforded where it is reasonably necessary to enable any member of the New Zealand Forces while overseas to meet the following obligations: (a) Rent; (b) interest payable in respect to loans or mortgages’ or in respect to agreements for the purchase of a dwelling house or business premises; (c) interest and instalments payable in respect of agreements for the purchase of furniture or other chattels; (d) rates and taxes; (e) insurance premiums; (f) other necessary or reasonable expenses not incurred in the purchase of property.

The assistance will be by way of periodic grants or lump sums, but in no case is the assistance to exceed £156 in any one year. Arrangements are in hand for the early preparation and circulation to all post offices and branches of the State Advances Corporation of forms for the completion by or on behalf of the soldiers concerned.