POLITICAL

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 23 June 1923, Page 7

POLITICAL

SOLDIERS' HOUSES

FUNDS FROM THE STATE

ADVANCES

(By Telegraph!— Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON, June 22.

Funds having run out in connection with advances to soldiers for house building, the Premier announced today that such applications will in future be dealt with by the State Advances Department. The matter arose because Mr. Sullivan (Avon), having received several complaints from soldiers who wished to build houses, but who could not get loans under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, asked what was the position. He understood that there was a shortage of money, and he wanted the Premier to say what were the prospects of improvement in this respect. Mr. Massey replied that he understood that there were a number of soldiers to whom a commitment had been made in regard to the building of houses, and as opportunity offered building would be proceeded with. After ■ that and when the Bill amending the State Advances Act he described was passed, he thought that soldiers would have a better opportunity of getting what they required than before, as the terms would be better. "I will net shut out the whole of the civil pop-n- . lation for the s.ake of the soldiers,'' concluded the Premier. "They will have to come in along with the others.

GO SOUTH, YOUNG MAN. JLii invitation in a North Island newspaper to young men to go north aroused the critical comment of the member for Awarua, who spoke in the House to-day. He suggested that as Southland had a large amount of the finest agricultural land in New Zealand the advice should be: ' 'Young man, go south." (Laughter from northern members.) Mr. de la Perrelle declared that they never had a crop failure in Southland.

Mr. Lysnar: Then why don't you keep your young men?

Mr. Perrelle: They are staying now, beeaii.se land values have never become so inflated as in the North Island. He added that the South Island was unlucky in not getting its fair share of public grants. Its members should insist on getting the money. Mr. J. C. Thomson: You will get the grants, but you won't get the money.

FROM BAD TO WORSE. A typical illustration of the danger of trying to explain was given in the House this afternoon by two members. The Hon. J. G. Cpates, Minister of Railways, deemed it necessary to correct the newspaper statement that he, as new Minister, had a very progressive railway policy up his sleeve. "I think,'" he said, "there is a little misunderstanding in that connection.1'

He got no further because a roar of laughter went up from the Opposition.

"I do not mind being laughed at," said the Minister of Railways." I have just received the portfolio of Railways and, to be frank about it r I do not know much about the matter.''.

Mr. Horn (Wakatipu), whose name was mentioned by Mr. Coates, asked leave to endorse' what the Minister of Railways had said. He repudiated responsibility for what appeared in the press. VI do not think,' 3 he added with conviction, "that I am responsible for the complimentary remarks about the Minister himself.

The House- saw the funny side of the remark, and Mr. Horn decided to. sitdown before he put his foot further into It.