STATE ADVANCES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 31 July 1929, Page 9

STATE ADVANCES

GOVERNMENT'S POLICY (By Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND, This Day. A great supporter of the system under which the Stale Advances 'Department lends money to settlers and workers is the lion, P. A. de Ja I'errelle, Minister of Internal Affairs. Addressing a meeting in Auckland, the Minister showered bouquets on the Department and its management, and expressed the opinion that, if the present Government had done nothing else since it assumed office, it, had certainly provided the farming community and the workers with an abundance of money to assist them. "There is no doubt about it," said the Minister, "Sir Joseph Ward's Government set out to help (he deserved with money as cheap as possible. All interests were studied, farmers, workers, anil others. The Government by its action has won the plaudits of tlid people as a whole, and assuredly the gratitude of those in urgent need of assistance. I doubt if any Government in the world, in such a short space of time, has achieved the sumo' fine record in respect of loaning money to farmers and others, all well deserving of assistance." Mr de la Perrelle went on to draw a comparison between tho lending institutions of New South Wales and New Zealand. "Recently," he stated, "it had been noticed that the State Government of New South Wales had proudly remarked that during its term of office, now approaching three years, it had lent to necessitous farmers £900,000. This amount falls into insignificance when compared with New Zealand's effort during the brief period the present Administration has been in office."

Till: LATEST RETURNS Before leaving Wellington, Mr do la Perrelle said that lie had had the advantage of an interview with the Minister of Finance (the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) and the Superintendent of the State Advances Office (Mr W. Waddel). "I was," remarked the Minister, "able to get the latest figures of what the Ward Government had accomplished. The figures I will give you speak for themselves. The loans authorised from 10th December, 1928, to j 25th Julv, 1929 (practically seven months), were:—To 1969 settlers, £2,317,490; to 2680 workers, £2,327,155; which makes a total of 4649 settlers and workers and the amount involved isi no less than £4,644,645. The loans actually paid over for the same period (seven months) to 1368 settlers amounted to £1.728,520. to 1738 workers £1,542,960. ' The total is 3106 settlers and workers ; and the amount of the loans is £3,271,- j 480." The position when the present Gov- i eminent took office was referred to by the. Minister. "There was," he said, "£450.000 available (at that time) for settlers, and not a brass farthing for workers. The amount loaned out since the inception of the Slate. Advances Office totals the vast sum of £40,812,306. Needless lo say, New Zealand owes much to the Prime Minister. It was ho that had the foresight to bring into be- ! ing the cheap money scheme for the Dominion. The Stall! pawnshop, as it was designated by Ins opponents when the scheme was going through tho Legislature, has been the means of putting thousands of settlers and workers on' their feel. Sir Joseph Ward immediately on being returned to office quickly set the dormant machinery into action with tiie magnificent achievement stated. I cannot Jet the occasion pass without paying a warm tribute to the work of the "Superintendent of State Advances Office (Mr W. Waddel) and his very efficient staff."