SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENT ACT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17531, 24 January 1919, Page 4

SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENT ACT

ALLEGEDLY UNNECESSARY REGULATIONS.

(Pbb United- Press Association.) HAWERA, January 22. At a meeting of the Returned Soldiers' Association a motion, was passed protesting against the regulations in connection with the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act. it was considered that the Act as passed L ?F liament wa s satisfactory, and the otncials were willing to do their best for the men, but regulations had been added which hindered the efficient administration. r,\n^ on . of the sogers' complaint are: (1) Inat with regard to advances on mortgage to assist returned soldiers the present application form, requires three months option by the owner to'the applicant, consequently it is only in exceptional cases that an intending buyer or seller can afford to Wa i*/i ®) witJl re^ r d to advances under a bill of sale security must be given not only for the stock and chattels on a farm, in respect of which money is required, but also over all other stock and chattels present and future of an applicant; (3) that all applicants must at their own expense appear personally before the board, entaihng long distances to travel and days of lost time, only with the prospect of no ' assurance of success; (4) that the Land Boards meets only monthly, and applications missing the current month's meeting are deferred a month; (5) all applications require the approval of th© Minister of Lands, this meaning further delay, especially to those living far from the centres. The meeting considered the conditions altogether unnecessary, and thought that local boards consisting of commercial and farming men could be established in all the smaller centres and overcome the present waste of time.