SETTLING SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 156, 27 March 1919, Page 8

SETTLING SOLDIERS

TJTJJ HOUSING I'ltOULJiil. The c|iii'stiuu of the provision of housing accommodation lor reiurmug sol uitrs was mseusseu ot yesteruay s uieeu iii« of Ino Uar Keiiet wlieu liui ciuiirmaii, jSir. L. 0. ii. Tripp, mov en tile following imitioii:—

i "Tlint owing io tiiu shortage of houses in flie Ittrse imvna. of Aew /.ealaiuf tiiu Uuveruincni at once proceeil lu erect houses :ii the principal centres, and taut I tin houses when liuilt should Ijo sold io Mo soldiers «t easy terms; that, a copy in' this resolution snould Ijo sent to the AeliiiK-l'riHie Minister, the chairman ot the Hepatization Jioard, tlio liiunicijial milhorities, and the chairman of ilie Jt'ioH-H-Plaimiug Association."

Jn moving the motion .\lr. Tripp stattd that in many wises returned soldier* u'ere . experiencing difficulty iti gutting houses and rooms. I'esterday a lady cnljeil at Ihe oltice, and asked for the assistance of the associlaiou in the mutter of obtaining a house for her. The Government were granting sums up to i'lflflO to soldiers with whioli to buy houses. This wiis a good idea, but lib considered it would be much better if the Government built tho housos. Tho Government should bo able to build houses cheaper than anyone else. Mr. G. S'ltirtclilfo suggested (hut (he .municipal authorities should be included in the resolution, and this was accordinglv done. Mr. J. Hulch'isou remarked that before the termination of hostilities it was considered that the .shortage of houses and rooms in Wellington was duo to the soldiers from Trenthani having homes in the oily, but it was evident now that the house shortage was very acute. Houses nnrst be obtained for the returned soldiers. - . < Mr. Tripp emphasised the need for tho Government to build the houses for fbo soldiers. Ho did not desire the Government to simply make a grant and give a lump sr.ni to the soldier. Mr. ,T. M'lntosh slated that he understood that grunts of J;10W wore being refused soldiers for the renson that the Ruplicnnte' were not earning more than £1 per week, and they could not afford ■to buy a hor.se costing eo much. Mr. Iluteheson remarked that as far as tho soldier <vas concerned the whole responsibility lay on the Eepatriatiou Board. Tho resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. J. Jl'lntosh then rioved: "That the Government be urged to remove tho limitation placed on the amounts advanced by tho Advances to Workers juid 'Advances' to Settlers' Departments, in order that soldiers may be enabled to acquire houses for themselves under the provisions of tho Acts." This was seconded- by Mr. J. nutclioson and carried.