EX-SOLDIERS' HOMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19929, 24 April 1928, Page 13

EX-SOLDIERS' HOMES.

SALES BY GOVERNMENT. PROTEST TO PRIME MINISTER. Objections to the sale by the Government of ex-soldiers' homes in cases where the arrears had not been paid were made in a letter recently sent to the Prime Minister by the New Zealand Ex-Service-men's League. It was pointed out that many of the men concerned were out of employment, and were thus unable to fulfil their obligations through no fault of their own.

Mr. Coates pointed out in reply that it was difficult to deal with a general statement. It was true several ex-servicemen had had their land sold by the commissioner of Crown lands, but in each case exceptionally lenient treatment had been given, and the sale only resorted to when the position became hopeless. Everything possible was done before the department exercised its power of sale. It is the opinion of the league's executive that the system of granting loans to ex-servicemen through the Repatriation Department, which was discontinued when the Government considered the need of it had passed, should be revived. Tho league considers that many men deserving of assistance are refused leans because others have abused their loans, and that the revival of the system would be justified if assistance were granted to men whose cases, after thorough investigation, were considered deserving. The league will also suggest that the cancellation of arrears, making possible a fresh start, would he justified by the circumstances, with the provision that the final paying-off date should be extended to make up in some degree for the lost arrears.