SOLDIER SETTLERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22225, 27 September 1935, Page 13

SOLDIER SETTLERS

MORE LOANS AND LAND OPERATIONS UNDER SCHEME INCREASED CASH RECEIPTS . [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday Loans to the number of 574, involving a total amount of £59,028, were authorised during the year under tho Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Account, states the report of operations under tho Act for the last financial year, which was presented to Parliament to-day by the Minister of Lands, Sir Alfred Ransom. There wore seven new loans, involving £2510, and 567 additional loans to the extent of £56,518. Cash receipts for the year exceeded those for tho previous year by £122,882. Lands sot apart for selection by discharged soldiers totalled 5857 acres, making a grand total of 1,452,525 acres proclaimed since the inception of the scheme. PARTY FUNDS APPEAL CHRISTCHURCH CIRCULAR p CLAIM BY MR. LANGSTONE [BY TELECRAPH SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday A circular letter said to have been issued by the executive of the Reform Party in Christchurch in an appeal for party funds was quoted by Mr. F. Lajigstone (Labour —Waimarino) in the House, of Representatives.

He said the letter indicated that tho raising of the exchange rate was being used to entice farmers and others to subscribe to party funds, and that tho letter in question asked them to set aside one-tenth or one-twentieth of their benefits from the exchange to fight the Labom Party. This letter had been signed by Messrs. H. D. Acland, Arnaud McKellar, H. G. Livingstone, C. P. Agar and Norton Francis. Of these, Mr. Livingstone had since been appointed to tho Broadcasting Board, Mr. Agar had been appointed to the Dairy Board, and Mr. Norton Francis tc the directorate of the Iteserve Bank.

COUNTRY'S FINANCES PRAISE FOR GOVERNMENT TAX REDUCTION ADVOCATED [«Y TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday Praise for the Government's general financial policy was blended with criticism of its failure to reduce taxation in a speech by Mr. A. Harris (Government —TVaitemata) during the financial debate in the House of Representatives to-day. Notwithstanding the Budget provisions, Mr. Harris held that the Minister of Finance, Mr. Coates, might reasonably make some taxation concessions this year.

" A close perusal of the Budget shows that it is quite different from the usual pre-election financial statement," Mr. Harris said. "In election year a great deal of window dressing is usually indulged in by the Minister of Finance. On this occasion there in very little, if there is any at all. For that reason I think the Budget will appeal to the thinking section of the community. It is a plain, unvarnished statement of the finances of the country without any attempt to influence the electors during the next few weeks.

" The most gratifying feature is the evidence of the country's steady and progressive recovery. There has been a marked improvement in trade and industry and the extreme wave of pessi mism evident about two years ago has disappeared. In view of that, I would have liked to have seen some substantial reductions in taxation. I think the Minister of Finance might have been bold enough to recognise that the finances of the country make some reduction possible. A country overburdened with taxation cannot hope for a full measure of recovery."

THE PROBATION SYSTEM GOOD RESULTS FOR YEAR CHIEF OFFICER'S REPORT [BY TELEORAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Thursday "The results of the year's work have been exceedingly satisfactory," states the chief probation officer, Mr. B. L. Dallard, in his annual report for the year 1934-35 on offenders' probation, which was presented to Parliament today by the Minister of Justice, Hon. J. G. Cobbo. It is stated that reports from district probation officers show that in spite of the adverse conditions prevailing during the past year, particularly with regard to the paucity of opportunities for placing probationers in permanent employment, the results of the year's work have been exceedingly satisfactory and that few probationers have failed to respond to requirements. The total amount paid by probationers during the year was £2914, representing £475 for costs of prosecutions and £2439 for restitution to persons robbed or defrauded. The total number of cases dealt with under the Offenders' Probation Act was 2710, a decrease of 31 on the number for the previous year. The number of fresh admissions to probation was 821, representing an increase of 54 compared with the previous year. Over 50 per cent of the number admitted to probation were persons under 25 years of age. Of the total number of persons on probation only about 8 per cent failed to conform to the conditions imposed on them. During the year 371 persons were released from prison on probation.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*! WELLINGTON. Thursday Ihe Legislative Council passed tho Imprest Supply Bill this afternoon. Speaking on the second reading of tho Shipping and Seamen (Safety and Load Lines Conventions) Bill, the Hon. W. Perry (Wellington) urged that in tho event of the Imperial Government not taking action in the matter of meeting competition from American subsidised shipping, New Zealand and Australia should take the- matter in hand to protect its own shipping in the Teaman Sea.

Tho Hon. B. Masters, Leader of the Council, replying, said that in view of the fact that tho matter was still under consideration by tho Governments, he wfis not prepared to discuss it at the moment.

At the request of Sir Francis Bell (Wellington) tho bill was referred to the Statutes Bevision Committee.

The Council rose until Tuesday.