D.S.S. ACT AND STATE ADVANCES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10938, 11 May 1926, Page 4

D.S.S. ACT AND STATE ADVANCES.

REQUEST TO TEMUKA R.S.A. RETURNED SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS. An honorary member of the Temuka R.S.A. at the annual meeting, 'brought up the question of financing returned soldier settlers. 'He said during the year Mr Rolleston in the House, brought up the .question of whether it was possible to get the advances under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act, worked through the .State Advances to Settlers’ Department. They had to wait about two years for an advance and it seemed to the speaker that, if a man was a returned soldier, it was made a bit harder. The Land Boards had very little time for returned soldiejs 1 at present. He would like a remit to go forward: “That we endeavour to get advances through the Advances to Settlers.”

There was no chance of getting any advances through the D.S.S. Act. If a farm comes back to the Government, after putting the soldier out, because he can’t make a living, it is reduced in valuation and then offered to civilians. The speaker didn’t think it was fair, and thought the value should be brought down for the returned soldier before putting him off. He also thought returned! soldiers should be given a chance to ballot. There were quite a number of soldiers willing to try, but if one looked into the matter, they had no chance.

Mr White asked the speaker to put the remit in writing and submit .same to the next meeting, when they could forward it on to headquarters.