"BLOOD-SUCKING."

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1917, Page 7

"BLOOD-SUCKING."

!SAD CASE OP AUCKLAND SOLDIER'S WIDOW. "Whether the Government will this session introduce legislation to put a stop to the extortionate and blood-suck-ing methods of certain money-lenders who at present are fattening on the misfortunes of the poor?" was a question to tho Government given notiop of in Parliament) on Friday by Mr. H. Poland, M.P., for Ohinemuri. A statement (said the hon. member) was made by Mr. 'V. J. Lamer, chairman of the Relief Committee of the Auckland Patriotic Association, in reference to tho rates of interest that are being paid by a considerable number of soldiers' dependents to cer» tain money-lenders. In the case of soot 6 of the soldiers' dependents loans were negotiated on furniture, and it is in this connection that the Relief Committefl has found that harsh and usurious measures have been adopted towards the poor. Take one instance: A woman with one child, who had just lost her husband, appeared +>-- committee recently. She stated that her husband was out of work before he enlisted. They had to have money to buy the necessities of life, and went to one of these-money-lenders who advance money at high rates of interest on household chattels. Hero they borrowed £-20, and were charged £l 10s costs, while the conditions imposed were that they had to pay £2 per month for fourteen months. This meant that for £IS ids—namely, £2O, less the £1 10s costs—the sum of £2B had to be repaid. This matter of usury was one that was discussed at the last conference, of patriotic societies, and it is to be hoped that the Government will at an early date promote legislation with a view to preventing these blood-sucking method: which are practised on the deserving poor." (If the Government paid adequate pensions and gave adequate allowances there would be no necessity for a soldier's widow to go to a money-lender.—Ed.)