SOLDIER FARMERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2807, 6 November 1924, Page 3

SOLDIER FARMERS.

ANOTHER RELIEF MEASURE APPROVED. Wellington, Last Night. The Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Amendment Bill was put through its final stages and passed by the House to-day. In moving the second reading, the Minister of Lands (Mr McLeod) said that the Bill was really for the purpose of clearing up several matters in connection with soldier settlement! Mr Buddo regretted that many important amendments were being brought in when they did not have an opportunity of going thoroughly into the Bills. He trusted that, it was the intention of the Minister to make as generous allowances as possible in order that the discharged soldiers mighi liquidate their obligations. Mr T. W. Rhodes (Thames) said ho desired to ask the Minister if he could do something more for a certain section of the returned soldiers who had not benefit ted whatever under the Discharged Soldiers’ Act. Such a step would be in the interests of the Dominion, as well as of the soldiers under review.

In his reply the Minister said that tlie finances that were coming in were barely sufficient to carry on the soldiers who had already been settled on the land. The Minister admitted that soldiers not on the land had as much right to assistance as those already settled, but there were financial considerations that had to he taken into account. The Bill was read a second time and put through the committee stage, without amendment.

On the third reading, Mr Side.V reminded the Prime Minister of a petition presented earlier in the session. by returned soldiers, who suggested that capital moneys which had been loaned for house-building purposes should be refunded and earmarked for re-advancement. The total amount he thought, would he £200.000 or £300,000. Mr Massey: “A .good deal more than that.”

Mr Sidey asked the Prime Minister if he had considered the prayer of the petition. Mr Massey replied that the request was for something like what was done last, year, when £500,000 or £600,000 was taken from ordinary revenue and used for housebuilding purposes. A great, change, had taken place since then, however, and he was providing just about as much money as lie could find. He reminded the House that £400,000 was going out to settlers. He did not know whether the Government would he able to do anything hut legislation would not he required. He intended to look into the matter during the recess, and if there were any cases of hardship, he would do his best to meet them. The trouble was that a large number of the houses built with the money provided last year were not, occupied by the people for whom they were built, hut were turned over at, a profit. He could not. recollect the exact number that were sold in that way, hut that sort of thing could not go on.