LOANS BY STATE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20573, 5 June 1941, Page 5

LOANS BY STATE

PURCHASE OF TOOLS DISCHARGED MEN DOMINION FORCES (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Government has decided to assist discharged members of the forces by making free-of-interest loans for the purchase of tools or equipment of trade by men who are returning to civil life and are themselves unable to provide sufficient money for the purpose.

The loans, which will not £SO in each instance, will be administered by thd State Advances Corporation. This statement was made by the acting-Prime Minister,' the Hon. W. Nash, in an interview. “A few cases had already been reported,” said the Minister, “of tradesmen who, on joining the forces for either overseas service or long-term home defence, sold their tools or trade equipment. Now they had been discharged and desire to take up civil work again they are faced with the necessity of obtaining a new tool kit for which, in some instances, they have not sufficient money. It is in the best interests both of the men and the community that the return of skilled men to their work should be facilitated in every possible way.” Outlining the general conditions of the loans, the Minister stressed the point that a man would be expected to purchase his tools himself wherever he had the means, but where he was not in such good circumstances, the Government would provide assistance, each case to be treated on its merits and handled with a minimum of delay.

An applicant for a loan must be a discharged airman, soldier or sailor and loans would be provided for the tools necessary for the particular employment of the applicant. In most cases there was a customary standardised kit which would serve as a guide. The repayment of the loans would be settled at the time of making the loan. Applicants desiring loans were advised not to make any purchase of tools themselves with the object of claiming a refund. The corporation, as administrator of the loan, would make its own arrangements for purchase in all cases. Applications should be made in the first instance ■o the local branch or agency of the State Advances Corporation. “These loans for tools of trade,” concluded Mr. Nash, “are the forerunner of other financial assistance which the Government has under consideration for the purpose of achieving the satisfactory rehabilitation of our returned men.”