SOLDIERS IN BUSINESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17965, 15 December 1921, Page 8

SOLDIERS IN BUSINESS.

SIX THOUSAND ASSISTED. v many loans repaid.' SEVENTY-FOUR CLOSE DOWN. [BX TEUBOBAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] : WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A return lias been to the House showing that the number of soldiers' businesses that have been closed up owing to their inability to carry on is 74. Six of the proprietors died, three became eccentric, 11 failed through illness or misfortune, and 64 were catalogued bb " unsatisfactory." The largest number of failures were in the fishing business; there being 27 failures. The Government has assisted 6000 discharged, soldiers to establish businesses, and it would be quite impossible to carry out a monthly inspection of their books, nor was this ever intended. The local officers of the department exercise reasonable supervision over the grantors, and the inspection of the books and stock is undertaken when circumstances warrant it, but the policy of the department in this respect is to refrain from unduly interfering with or harassing the soldier in the conduct of his business. No fewer than 1081 business loans have already been repaid in full. LOCAL BODY LAWS.

SECOND READING DEBATES.

MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS. [BY TEUBGRAI'H.—MIESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON. W«dne«d»y. The second reading of the Municipal Corporations: Amendment Bill, which largelv incorporated the amendments suggested by the Municipal Associations. Conference, was moved in the House tonight, by the Hon. W, Downie Stewart. Mr. 1). G. Sullivan (Avon) said he considered there should be unification of procedure in the case of the amalgamation, of boroughs with boroughs, or cities and of other local body areas with, boroughs. The present procedure was too complicated and expensive. Mr. J. R. Hamilton (Awarua) said he considered the power given in last year's Act to a borough to extend its boundaries, and include rural areas without a poll was unfair. Sir John Luke (Wellington North) said the people of the areas proposed to be included in municipal limits bad the right of appeal. ( Tho Minister, _ replying, said he considered the provision relating to amalgamation afforded reasonable protection to the areas that did not desire union. The Bill was read a second time. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart moved the second reading- oi the Counties Amendment Bill. Mr. T. M. .Wilford, Leader of the Opposition, stated he intended to move in. Committee for the exemption or limitation of the properties having efficient septic tanks from liability for sanitary drainage rates.

Mr. H. M; Campbell (Hawke's Bay) said he considered measures should be taken to stop, the present heavy motor traffic, which .was damaging roads running parallel with the railways. Toll-gates gight tend to divert this traffic to the Uways, the revenues of which had suffered lately. > The Minister said expert opinion had been obtained On this point, and was em" bodied in the departmental report that should be available to members. The Bill waß T«ad a second time.