Too Many Fingers in Rehabilitation Pie

Northern Advocate, 29 November 1947, Page 7

Too Many Fingers in Rehabilitation Pie

Sat. (P.A.).—Though a farm of 552 acres close to Greymouth was offered by the owner to the Rehabilitation Department two years ago, it was not until yesterday, when its sale to a civilian came before the Westland Land Sales Committee, that the Crown interested itself in the proposition, and it sought to have the property taken under Section 51 of the act as suitable for the settlement of ex-servicemen.

Criticism of the action of the Crown was voiced by the committee, whose chairman, Mr M. Wallace, said: “There is too much red tape, too many departments and too many fingers in the pie.’’ He was trying to ascertain from witnesses whose responsibility it should have been to have acted on the offer of the farmer to the state. Bewilderment at the action of the Rehabilitation Department, Lands Department and State Advances, which were involved in the transaction at various stages, was expressed. In giving decision to adjourn the application the committee declared it could not commend the methods of the departments, and that the Crown had fallen down on its job.