RESPONSIBILITIES OF SOLDIERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11764, 31 July 1916, Page 3

RESPONSIBILITIES OF SOLDIERS.

CROWN TENANTS' ADVANTAGES. SHOULD OTHERS SHARE? [FROM Otfjl CoKKEfTO.VPENT.] WELLINGTON. July 20. A clause in the War Legislation Bill empowering tho Government to graut concessions to Crown tenants who enlist was debated at great length by tho House to-night, strong pressure being brought to bear on the Government to treat soldiers who were not Crown tenants with equal liberality. Mr Witty suggested that, as the Government gave Crown tenants concessions in regard to rent when they enlisted tho Crown might treat freeholders with equal consideration by paying interest on their mortgages if they needed this assistance while fighting for their country. Tho interest could be' capitalised. " They have tho advantage of the moratorium," suggested the Prime Minister.

Mr W. H. Field said the problem was a big one. It would bo serious if every case of a freeholder with a mortgage had to be assisted.

Mr Hindmarsh: Is it not a serious thing to send a man to the front? Mr Field replied that ho was not opposing tho suggestion; ho would like to see the Government Administering tho businesses oi men who enlisted it they desired this form of assistance. Unfortunately a large number of men who went away weald not get the benotit of tho moratorium, as mortgages were now prepared excluding the mortgagor from the benefit of the moratorium.

The Prime Minister stated that the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act applied to tho cases mentioned by Mr Witty so long as tho laud belonged to tho Crown. Members must realise what a tremendous problem was being raised. Jt waa the right thing 1 to help one's own tenant, the State tenant. Tho question had been before Cabinet on many occasions, but it was too difficult to deal with. Nobody would allow the farm of a New Zealand soldier to bo eold up. • BRITAIN'S EXAMPLE.

Mr Forbes drew the Prime' Minister's attention to tho English Bystcni,_ under which relief was given to soldiers in connection with rent, interest, rates, premiums of insurance, and instalments on the purchase of furniture, etc., up to £lO4 per annum. Thus Britain was miles ahead of New Zealand in relieving her soldiers of financial worry. Men who had time payments on their houses were equally worthy of consideration with the" Crown "tenants. We wer.o now coming to a class of recruit, likely to havo obligations of this kind. Tho Prime Minister suggested that Mr Forbes had forgotten the pay of.a British soldier was 7s a week; the New Zealander got 3os. "Wo have tho power to deal with cases of hardship," added Mr Massey, " and we would not allow a soldier to suffer hardship. The Finance Minister has set aside £IOO,OOO for a similar purpose." Mr H. G. Ell said that the Government, which was asking men to go to tho front, must protect'those men and their families from losing their homes because they were 'fighting for their country. Mr D. Buick said that the men were roally -going to fight for the interests and "privileges of those who had lent money on mortgages, and' tho soldiers and their families ought to be protected. The'sooner tho'Government could do something to protect the: tenant of'the private man and the borrower from the private man in the ram? way as tho Grown .tenant was protected, the better it would be. Mr W. T. Jennings stated that a case had boon. mentioned to him in which a returned wounded soldier had received a notice from a Land Board that if £SO of rent that was due was not paid he would have to give up tho land. ~,..,, The Prime Minister said that that case was met, and application had only to be made to Jiave it put right. Provision was also made in the case ot land that returned soldiers found to bo in a bad condition. No Crown tenant and no worker who had an advance under the Advances to Workers Act would be allowed to lose his farm or his home because he was'away at tho front. A member .suggested that the Government should take power to doa.l by regulation with payments_ of instalments of purchase-money m rent, interest on mortgages, and ordinary rents, so as to protect the homes ot tho soldiers and their families. Mr Massey said that he could not accept such a "suggestion right away. Ho must, consult Cabinet first and take the opinion of the Finance Minister as to whether they could do as suggested without crippling the finance of the country, lie would put it before Cabinet, and if it was considered feasible a. clause could be inserted later. The Government had already given earnest o# its sympathy by settinc aside the £IOO,OOO he had referred to. Mr Pavn© asked whether the £IOO,OOO was intended for the benefit of the tenants of private landlords 2 3 as Crown tenants. Mr Massey: To relievo hardship generally. .' Mr Payne; Then that is a point in. (Hear, hear.) The clause was adopted..