HOMES FOR EX-SOLDIERS

Grey River Argus, 18 May 1944, Page 3

HOMES FOR EX-SOLDIERS

R.S.A. Requests EVACUATION OF SINGLE SERVICEMEN. ALSO CAMPS AND WEEK-ENDERS’ COTTAGES, P.A. WELLINGTON, May 17 According to a report presented to the Dominion Executive of the Returned Servicemen’s Association, the position in regard to discharged servicemen with families who cannot find homes, is growing progressively worse, instances being given of men returned from service in the Middle East who were living in distressing conditions. The report said that it was considered that as more men return the position will get worse. It was also reported that a large number of single men in the service personnel are occupying State rental houses. The R.S.A. Executive expresses the opinion that these men should be accommodated in barracks, and that their houses should be made available to ex-servicemen requiring a home

The Executive decided to make urgent representations to the ActingPrime Minister, Hon D. G. Sullivan, to have-the position investigated. In order to further alleviate the position, it was decided to urge the Government to consider the erection of temporary housing accommodation on the lines of defence works camps. The Association will also ask the Government to consider compelling those persons with more than one house — those people for instance who have .week-end cottages, etc., to make them available for the relief of the present housing position, with suitable safeguards for vacant possession, when these cottages are reasonably required by their owners. It was also decided to ask the Government to increase its preference percentage of the State Houses that .are set aside for the ex-servicemen to seventy-five per cent, in all districts where the need is most pressing.