ALTERATIONS NECESSARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 October 1918, Page 4

ALTERATIONS NECESSARY.

Thcro are one or two directions in which the laws and regulations governing assistance to discharged soldiers may he advantageously extended. The Government grants assistance for the purchase of a dwelling and land up to £IOOO, under conditions which appear fair and reasonable, hut it is not available until a soldier receives his discharge. Soldiers are returning at the present time with their health impaired who are unlikely to receive their discharge for some time. Their wives and children may have been boarding, and naturally the soldiers are anxious to secure a home for themselves as quickly as possible. To Tent houses in most of the larger towns just now is almost an impossibility, and the only course open to them is to purchase a home. Few are in a position to do so. Could not the Government meet such cases by extending the provisions of the Act to such men on proof that they are Unlit for military service? There should I be no difficulty in the way, and it would afford relief in pressing cases that have I come under our own notice. Again, while the Government gives help to the ex-soldier, none is extended to the widows of soldiers who have laid down their lives. Why? If it is advisable to provide facilities for the purchase of a j house in the case of a discharged soldier, surely it is equally advisable to help a soldier's widow in the 6ame way. Indeed, we believe her claim should be given precedence, for the reason that as a rule she is unable to fend for herself. Moreover, she ought not to have to do so. The State should help her to purchase a home on the easy terms it offers to discharged soldiers. There are many poor widows to-day at their wit 3' end trying to secure homeß, but they can only do so by purchasing them, and most of them are not in the position to purchase. It is the duty of the State to come to their rescue, and we trust an amendment of the regulations in these directions will shortly be made. '