STATE ADVANCES

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1926, Page 1

STATE ADVANCES

(Hansard). During the discussion on Supply in the House on the State Advances Estimates, .Air Scddon (Westland) said the Department had refused to recognise applications for loans on the -security of mining leases in mining townships. This affected one township in his constituency—namely, Boss. There tlie houses were practically all built on mining leases, and all applications fur advances had been refused. The Mayor of Boss and the Town Clerk had pointed out to him how unfairly this disqualification operated in Ross. He had already represented the matter to the Government, and he would like to have a statement from the Minister as to whether it- could he reconsidered. Tf it was possible to add these mining leases to the leases already recognised by the Department, it would do away with tlie injustice. The Hon Mr Downie Stewart said that, in reply to the honourable member for Westland, there was no rule against making advances on mining leases nor on residential sites under satisfactory terms and conditions. He did not know tbe conditions of the Ross leases. So far as the alleged discrimination against country houses was concerned, all were treated on the same basis—according to their value. The figures showed that there was just as much being lent for housing purposes in the country as in the towns.

A LUNATIC’S RIDE. LONDON, July 9. A lunatic’s adventures in a motorcar, which he managed to l)jiy< after escaping from a private home’, were mentioned in Glasgow Central Police CourUACsterday. njSpjSnKui, charged with a breach of the’BffiHorow traffic regulations by driving a motor-car pasE a stationary tram-way-ear at a stopping place in the city, did not appear, and the prosecuting solicitor said the man was now under mental treatment. Although lid bad no previous driving experience the man was able to start tbe ear, and after sundry adventures he “piled it up” near Largs, 40 miles from Glasgow. The man was banded over to an attendant by the Largs police, who had been informed of his escape. It appears that the man escaped from the home- at- 11 o’clock in the morning and bought- the motor-car—a new one— at a Glasgow garage. He drove to Largs through Paisley, Bishopton, and Langbnnk. At Paisley ho collided with a tramwnycar. and after the police had taken particulars of the accident he was assisted into liis ear and continued his journey. Arriving at- Bishopton. he ran into a ditch and was thrown out of the car. but passing motorists helped him and once more he drove on. After another accident at Langbnnk he hired a motor-lorry to tow his ear to Largs, where the police were waiting for him.