ADVANCES TO SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1920, Page 4

ADVANCES TO SOLDIERS.

THE STOPPAGE OF GRANTS, jMANY MEN "SHUT OUT.'* The announcement made by the Hon D. 11. tlythrie (Minister of Lands) at Inglewood that the Government had stopped advances to returned soldiers for tile purchase of farms and dwellings, lias come as a "bombshell" to returned soldiers who have not yet applied for advances.

A Daily News representative yesterday spoke tp ex-soldiers who had contemplated applying ,ior advancoa within the next fe\y weeks, and he found amongst them a feeling of in* tense surprise mingled with doubt at to what the future intentions of the Government are. "Is it a, temporary measure, or is it the end of all advances?" provides the question to which the men want an answer, and it is felt that. gome clear and definite statement should be made by the Prime Minister. Particular exception, is taken to the attitude of the Government "In shutting the pay-out window without a warning bell." as one soldier .expressed it. The matter was placed before Mr G. H. Eullard (Commissioner of Lands), whose department deals with the advances. "All applications'from soldiers for farms and dwellings lodged With \» up to Thursday last will be considered on their merits by the Land Board, and as far as I know will, if' approved, go through," stated Mr. Bullard. Mr. Bul-' lard said ho had received instructions from Wellington that no further applications for soldiers' dwellings could be received until further notice, but attpllcations for the purchase of farms Into men with experience could still be considered if the propositions were sound. Another instruction wtta to the effect that no further applications for dis« charge of mortgages could be considered. Applications in hand up to Thursday last would be treated in the usual way. and >£ter being dealt with by the Land Board, would be forwarded to the Minister for approval- What would happen to them after being sent to Wellington, the Commissioner could not say. The Commissioner added that Parliament would meet in about two months' time, but it would be July at the earliest before new appropriations for soldier 'settlement could be granted, so la the case of soldiers waiting on farms and dwellings, who had not yet made application to the Board, it would be late in July or August before their propositions could come before the Roard The only alternative was Parliament to be called together earlier than usual for the purpose of granting more money.

Regarding sections, the Commissioner stated that the ballots would be held as usual and it was also the intention of the department to continue its policy of stocking farms for soldiers, sufficient money having been reserved for this purpose.