DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1927, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[i!T TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION’.] RANK INSPECTOR RETIRES. WELLINGTON, April 1. The retirement of .Mr 11. W. Lever. New Zealand Inspector of the Rank of New South Wales, was made the occasion of a pleasant function yesterday afternoon, when the staffs of the Inspectors’ Department and Wellington branch met to farewell their retiring chief. Mr J. T. Grose, who succeeds Mr Lever, prodded, and in an interesting -speech, telerred to Mr Lover's 50 years' unCokett service in the hank. Mr I.evi im'iied the hank in 1877 at Rrisban >. and after 'being transferred in turn lo Sydney. Lisrnore, Rozelle. liumleiigore, and Lisrnore. he came to New Zealand in 1010 to take charge of the Napier branch. 11l 1011 he waappoinled manager at Wellington, ami in 1021 InsjH'ctor for New Zealand.

Mr G. L R. Sheridan. Assistant-In-spector said that in 1877. when Mr Lever joined the service, the capital was 21.0(10,000. It was now £7.000.090. Deposits had grown from £8,500.000 to £50.000.00:) and the profit from L'217.000 lo £1.000,000 last year. On behalf of the Neu Zealand staff, Mr Sheridan presented Mr Lever with a wallet ol notes, arid conveyed to him the good wishes of his follow-oflieers. and asked him lo purchase for himself and Mrs Lever some enduring article which would remind them both of the years spent in the hank. REMANDED FOR THEFT. CIIRISTCII I'RCII. April 5. William John Sullivan. '_’s. was remand'd lor a week and ordered to report (lady tn the police on a charge that between June HIHh, 11)2-1, and March 19th. 11)27. he received sums of money, tula li'ing l'()5U sterling, on terms requiring him to account for if to the ( a uadi.an Government and the Mercantile Marine Coy. l.td. and did fraudulently fail to do so. thereby camnetting theft. Rail was allowed, sell in 2250 and surety 1:250.

STATE LOANS. A COMPLAINT AND AN EXPLANATION. WELLINGTON. April T. A correspondent to the ” Post ” writes dial he is staggered to find that preference is being given to applicants lor Stale loans provided that the applicant purchases a section owned by the Government.

The information at his disposal he states, is that if a person buys a Government section and applies to the State Advances Department for a loan this Is usually now granted within about three months, whereas if a person buys a section from a private individual and applies for a State loan it might take at least a year, probably a little less to get approval. The Minister of Finance, on being interviewed with regard to the complaint. referred the matter to the Advances Department, which advises that on taking over the Housing Branch from the Labour Department some veals ago certain areas of land throughout Now Zealand became vested in the State Advances Department. The land represented a considerable outlay of capita! from which no return was being derived, and as the erection of dwellings under the Housing Act had ceased it was decided to dispose of the laud as early as possible. From time to time various portions had been j made available for purchase'. All offers had been carefully considered by members ol the board of the office and various sections had been allotted to applicants who. in the opinion of flic hoard, were most in tired ol homes. Tt

almost invnraldy happens that persons to whom sections are allotted :iro living in circumstances and under condiI ions wliirli w;irrnnt their applications for loans heine- proceeded with as urgent necessitous en>cs.