REPATRIATION BOARD

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 154, 25 March 1920, Page 5

REPATRIATION BOARD

GRANTS FOE CHEESE FACTORIES,

Two grants of ,£SOOO each for the establishment of two cheese factories were approved of to returned soldier settlers at the last meeting of the Wellington District Repatriation Board. The soldier settlers in the Tiratu block near Dnnnevirke, and at Pihautea, part of the estate of the late Air. Bidwilt on the Runmahaunga River, have handed together- and decided to have their own cheese factories. Twenty men from each block applied for a' loan of .£250 each with which to erect the plant, and the grants have been approved. Yesterday afternoon Messrs. C. W. Batten (local district repatriation officer), T. Moss (member of the board), and Mr. Curl, of the Dairy Department, proceeded to Pihautea to consult with the soldier settlers there regarding the terms of repayment, etc. The party will afterwards go on to the Tiratu block for thi same purpose. Altogether sixty-six applications for business and furniture loans were dealt with. In regard to furniture, loans 31 were granted, four deferred for further consideration, and two were declined. In the case of applications for loans with which to start business 15 were granted, three deferred, and nine declined.

A grant 1 of £900 was made in the case of, a party of returned soldiers who are opening business as coach and motorbody builders. Two ex-medical officers were vach granted ,£3OO to assist them m establishing their practices. The application of an apprentice in tho furniture trade who had not completed his time, for n loan to open up business on his own account, was declined, as the board considered that he should complete his time. The board declined to grant a loan to a. young man who desired to open up a billiard saloon, as it wns considered that it was not a suitable business for him to tako no.

A loan was, granted in the case cf a soldier who.is to take up firewood cutting in the Hutt, and another man was granted a loan to purchase a motor-car for tho mail service ,at ICimboiton. A returned soldier carrier was refused a. loan for the nurchaso of n carrying business, as;the horses were considered by the beard to be unsuitable for the work on account of age. One limbless man was repatriated to Australia.