FINANCING RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1917, Page 6

FINANCING RETURNED SOLDIERS.

ASSISTANCE FROM DAIRY FACTORIES. At the annual meeting of the Alangatoki Dairy Company on Tuesday, there sas some discussion on a proposal that the company should assist in financing returned soldiers who were desirous of taking up Government land within the district over which the company extends its operations. The question was introduced by Mr. McGuinness, wdio suggested that the dishould be recommended to finance free of interest for three years any returned soldiers taking up land in the Parkes estate who might require assistance. He pointed oul that the land had not yet been dairied on, so that the company could not be accused o! enticing suppliers away from other companies. He did not know of any other place in the district that would lie bought up by the Government, aud he thought that the fact that the company was prepared to assist them might be an inducement to local boys who had returned to apply for . the land. Though advancing the money free of interest, the company would benelit indirectly by the increased supply and the returned men would bear a proportion of the cost. Tile chairman considered the object a praiseworthy one, but the directors must iirst see whether they had the power v ft was easy enough to grant the money, but it might be difficult to find it when required. Air. T. Perry pointed out that the Government granted JioM, which would possibly be increased to Hi COO. lie favored holding the matter over for further consideration.

Air. Astbury pointed out tiiat the matter would be in the hands of the directors, who were all careful men. Air. AlcGuinness said thai the company had financed men who were on leasehold land.

The chairman stressed the point that they might be now in the middle of the war and would have to be careful of their finances. Every month a number ot iiM.it were going to the front, and in tweive months time H was hard to say ivi.y the position would be. -Mr. Astbury thought that many of the boys would prefer to pay interest lor tlie money providing they knew that they could get it at current rates from the company. They would then be under no obligation to the company, but rather the company be under an obligation to them.

Air. AlcGuinncis finally moved that it be a recommendation to the directors to consider the question, and if satisfied assis-l, returned toldiers by way of finance oa Laid situate within the Alanjatoki factory area. This was seconded bv Mr. U i,. Astbury. Mr. Terry Asked whether (lie factory grant would come before, the Government grant or after. The directors should .-arefiilly consider tile matter. The Government would finance the soldiers if they put them on the land. Air. Anderson said that the Government were 'very slow to move, A supplier stated that the returned soldiers with land and an advance ot £SOU would have a better start than he or mu»t of the other suppliers had. The chairman stated that whatever was done would have t.i ho done through •Jut Lliieieiicy Trustees. Air. Astbury thought this would relieve the finances of (he Government The soldier c-julli utilise the loan (ruin the factory in obiiiiiiiig citile. ,v:ieri::is the Govcrmerit gralit iouM be itei-iscd in buildings and other pcniiuiieiit imp.-eve . men;.;, i lie resolution would ii.ji bind Hie direct ors. The resolution was tarried, j

A SMART PIECE OF WOHK.

PRAISE FOR A DKTLCTIVE. in toji'uitnting in the Hoiii e of Re- I i're-e:il..lives last week o.". recent dethat have i.tbn place in tiic u.i! Sen ice. the Alini.-ier for internal Aikiirs paid a iribyte 10 (he manner, in which a Wellington detective effectr,! )|ic arrest of an otiei.tiing ! civil iscrvant ilt the i'mint.i A-iiem. The Hon. (.!. W. IltieHel! rel.ife.f how the civil servant in tpOi-ti..m liigeiii-ou.-.iy tried to shift the blame of a large ilnd't on t-. ether rii mlders when a'ppivai'lud by the dele-live at Toi-inn. The latter, rjuli.-iug thai if tile aru-.-.t w», to be efi'ect'-d it iu::tt' be. nude promptly, a;jd allli.iie.'h he had no warrant for uiieif with hint, promptly levelled the suspected thief io the gr.ir.nd. A .vherl. *harp si,.-,,....',... took plane, and the detective triiiini hnnjlv exhibited a roll of sonie two thousand noto* he had taken firm the mini's pocket—clear proof of his guilt.

"And yet,' remarked Mr' W'ilfVnl, who had listened appreciatively to the store with ether members of Ihe House, 'tlie Government did not give one penny reward to the detective."

The Minister replied thai possibly if roni-w.MJiJ.ipn,-; were made the defective ill niihstjim jiiight receive some recognition for liii olimH v.xtfc. it is believed the deti'c'.ive referped to is Chief-Detective Bodiiam. -of Wellington, who was accompanied at. the lime of the arrest by Detective Mason. (Detective Boddam was formerly steliwied in Xew Plymouth, and his many fl-lefflia -will! be pleased to bear of his suecesn).