GRANTS TO SOLDIERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 51

GRANTS TO SOLDIERS.

£SOO CONSIDERED SUFFICIENT. CHRISTCHUR/CH, March 3. In reference to the suggestion made to increase the maximum grant from the Repatriation Department to returned soldiers going into business from £3OO to £SOO Mr Hobbs, on behalf of the Special Committee appointed, reported its finding to the Canterbury District Repatriation Board tonight. Mr Hobba said the experience of the committee was that was sufficient to give the returned soldier a fair chance to establish himself in a paying business, and this opinion was supported by figures which had been placed before the committee by the District Repatriation Officer. An amendment was moved that it be a' recommendation that the maximum business loan be increased from £3OO to £SOO, with retrospective application. The general opinion of members of the board was that £3OO was sufficient, and that a good man could make good on _ this amount, whereas a poor man would fail on £IOOO. . , The chairman said tnree men who had received tho maximum loan bad failed. Their failure had been duo not to lack of capital, but to lack of experience. The amendment was lost, and the committee's report adopted.