HOUSES FOR SOLDIERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3672, 29 July 1924, Page 32

HOUSES FOR SOLDIERS.

The following appeared in our Second Edition last week

CLOSING OF D.S.S. ACT

The question of housing as far as returned soldiers in Dunedin are concerned is an acute one, according to a statement made by the secretary of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association to a rejrorter, and it is now practically impossible to get money from the State Advances Department. A special meeting ot the executive of the Returned Soldiers Association was held on Tuesday to discuss the matter, and strong exception was taken in regard to the action of the Government in refusing to keep open the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act. Mr J. M’Crae (president) occupied the chair and there were also present Messrs H. H. Walker, E. J. Anderson, A. M’Hutchon, P. Harre, and H. L. Patterson. The Secretary (Mr A. C. Laing) read the following letter from Mr J. W. Munro, M.P.: —Regarding your association’s request to keep soldiers’ loans open for housing, I may say that with other Otago members I waited on the Prime Minister, and am sorry to say he adopted a hostile attitude. He stated that the Otago men had not taken advantage of the Act for soldiers’ loans, and as good as told the deputation that if the Otago men had nob received tihe same consideration as as other places it was their own fault. He definitely refused to keep the Act open, and that is- where it stands. The Chairman said the letter was not in accordance with the telegraphed message which appeared in the papers. Mr Massey had promised to go into the matter, and to say it was the fault of the Otago men was absurd. The position was that in other centres applications were being received and loans granted, but such was not the case in Otago. At their last interview with the Prime Minister he (the speaker) understood that Mr Massey would look into the matter and that all tho3e who had their claims in would receive help. Loans had been granted but the general body of applicants had not received assistance. Mr Walker said that gome of the money was going to civilians. The Chairman said that was so, and it was time the money was paid into the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Account. Mr M’Hutchon asked how much was set aside under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act? The Secretary stated that approximately £22,000,000 was the amount, and that about £BOO,OOO had been returned. The Chairman said he understood the Government had some hesitation in loaning money on farms after its experiences, but it never lost money on housing loans. Mr Anderson said they had Mr Massey’s own statement that it was not their fault. He would move: “With reference to the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act with which we have been concerning ourselves, that we convene a meeting in this club to which all men who applied to the State Advances Department be asked to attend.” Mr Harre seconded the motion. Mr Anderson went on to say that the Act should be kept open as long as returned soldiers had a genuine requirement. They were not asking the Government to do anything unduly hard, only that the account be kept in liquid form for the benefit of the men. They had also received information to the effoct that the benefit of the Act was being given to civilians, but it was not in the spirit of the Act that- civilians should get the privileges. He considered it was necessary to get the men together to discuss the position, and probably secure a petition to the Prime Minister, and also ascertain why civilians received the benefit of the Act. The housing question was one for concern, and if the present state of affairs were going to be continued it would be better to go for the total repeal of the Act. Mr M Hutchon said Mr Munro’s letter seamed to be somewhat different from the Prime Minister’s reply which was telegraphed to the papers. He took it from what Mr Massey had said that he was going to review the question in the Financial Statement. He thought it advisable to Statement ”* ey w^at appeared in that ~ Chairman said they could wait for the .statement if it were so desired. Mr Anderson contended that it would make no difference, and if there were to be any qmbblmg he would withdraw his motion. , Chairman suggested that the motion should stand, and authority be given him the * * after seein^ Mr M’Hutchon said it was all very well holding a meeting, but they wanted something definite to put before the meeting. After further discussion the motion was carried, and the matter left in the hands of the chairman.