VENDOR’S SACRIFICE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23320, 2 October 1945, Page 4

VENDOR’S SACRIFICE

Home For Ex-serviceman. Sum Of £750 Involved AUCKLAND. Sept. 23. In order to give preference to a returned serviceman purchaser, the sum of £750 was sacrificed by the vendor at a property auction in the city yesterday. The vendor was Mrs E. C. West, of 9 Tarawera Terrace, St. Heliers Bay. who was disposing of her home of . five electrically-equipped rooms and sun porches, basement, garage and laundry on half an acre of freehold land laid out as a productive orchard and nursery. There was also accommodation for 100 fowls. When, on the death of her husband a short time ago Mrs West decided to put her property on the market, she was approached by many private purchasers, including a number who suggested ways and means by which the Land Sales Act might be circumvented. Ker view, however, was that the property was one w’hich would meet the need of a returned serviceman. Accordingly she decided to offer it at auction oh certain conditions. The sale was conducted yesterday, and when the conditions were announced there was a chorus of approval from the attendance of about 100. The bidding started at £2OOO. and rose to £3750. The bidders were then given a form on which they were asked to give the amount of their bid particulars of service in the First or Second World War. other house property owned by them the number of their family, and how many of them oi other dependants would live with the purchaser in the home. Thirteen of the forms were returned, and from them a selection was made of a man who has served for over five years in the war and whose bid was £3009 or £750 below the highest offer.

Expressing his thanks for the consideration shown him. the purchaser said: "Now I know there are still decent people In the world.” The Minister of Rehabilitation, the Hon C. F. Skinner, has also taken an interest in the sale. Writing to the auctioneers he said that if more people wou’d adopt the same principle the work of the Rehabilitation Department would be greatly eased.