SOLDIER SETTLEMENT ACT.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 January 1919, Page 5

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT ACT.

A PROTEST FROM HATORA. Hawera, Jan. 22. ■ A meeting o.' the Betumed SoUfenft Association kat night passed a motion'; protesting against the regulations in 008-f neetiiro with the Discharged Soldiers} Settlement Act. il was considered tha« the Act, as passed by Parliament, is satisfactory, and that the officiais an! willing to do their best for the men, buti regulations have fcecn added whieh hi&L >r efficient administration. The gnmudfl of the uoldiens" complaint aw, firstlyl that with regard to advances on jaorfei gage to assist returned soldiers tb* pre#j ent application form requires three months' option by the owner to thi applicant. Consequently it is oaly Q exceptional cases that an intending buyer and seller can afford to wait Sort ondly, with regard to advance* uedaij? bill of sale, security must be giveari not only for the stock and chattel! osr a form in respeci, of which money is rai quired, but also over all other stool; < and chattels, present and future, of thai 1 applicant. Thirdly, that all ] must at their own expense appear perx a |sonally before the Board, entailing laa&i distances of travel and days of lost ttm% with the prospect only, not the s*nu> Mice, of success. Fourthly, that tbs>.: Land Board meets only monthly, onA 1 applications missing tboV.urrent monthSiJ meeting are deferred a, month. Fifthly; a all applications require the Minister of J Lands' approval, meaning further delay,.] especially to those living far frwe. tW-j 1 centres. '. ■

The meeting considered the conditio!*; altogether unnecessary, and thought tin* -; local boards, consisting of farming and commercial men, could bs established ftp>\ all ama.ll centres to overconio the present waste of time, "",w»