SOLDIERS' DEPOSITS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10562, 13 April 1920, Page 6

SOLDIERS' DEPOSITS

FOB LAND PURCHASE. AGENTS DISCLAIM RESPONSIBILITY. There has been considerable comment of late in respect to deposits made by discharged soldiers for the purchase of homes. It has been stated that in many instances land agents have refused to return depositu in cases where the Land Boards have refused to make advances in respect to the properties for which tho deposits were made. Recently tho Canterbury Land Board had before it instances in which it appeared, as far as the documents before the board, disclosed, that discharged soldiers, who were applying for advances under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, were in danger of having the deposits they, had paid to land agents estreated in the event of the board declining to make the advances applied for. A member of a firm of land agents appeared before the board, and was questioned in respect of a particular option given by his firm to a discharged soldier whose application was before the board. Tho land agent stated that thero was a clear verbal understanding between the firm and the discharged soldier that in the event of the board declining the advance, the deposit would bo returned, and he also explained that the deposits d'.d not belong to tho land agent, but were under tho control of the vendor. Some vendors, he said, wero not over-anxious to do business with discharged soldiers, owing to the delays in .arranging advances through the Land Board; thero was such a shortage of houses that vendors did not like tying up their properties by giving options to discharged soldiers who were applying to the board for advances. , „ _ Tho chairman of the board, Sir H. ~D~ M. Hnszard, Commissioner fot Crown Lands, said that tho option form provided by the department was drawn up with the idea of .protecting discharged soldiers, and, consequently, when that form was not adhered to, or was altered, the board wanted to bo satisfied that the discharged soldier was getting a fair deal. The applicant was called in, :md confirmed the land ngent's -statement tie to the verbal understanding regarding tho return of the deposit.