LOANS FOR EX-SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1922, Page 4

LOANS FOR EX-SOLDIERS.

MORE MONEY AVAILABLE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie informed a deputation from the Returned Soldiers’ Association this morning that he had been able to make available within the last few weeks a little more money for advances to returned soldiers who wished to build homes. The extension of advances would depend upon the improvement in the finances of the country. The Minister stated the Government was most sympathetic in regard to building homes for soldiers, but the money had practically run dry. They were, however, keeping a few pounds in hand for T.B. and other cases requiring special consideration. Cases of married. ! soldiers who had families and had acquired sections were taken in order of merit, the Government sanctioning as many as possible. There never had been a decision to close down this work, and there was no intention of closing down. If at the end of the financial year the business was taken over by the State Advances Office the Repatriation Office would still control it, so there would be no cutting off of sympathetic treatment. The Prime Minister said there was no great shortage of houses, except in Wellington and Auckland. A member of the deputation: The shortage is nearly all over. Mr. Massey: Not in Dunedin. We have houses there we can’t dispose of. Mr. Guthrie said the department had heard of most cases in Wellington, but perhaps because Wellington was the handiest. Some of them were pitiable eases. The Government, was re-advanc-ing money as it came in.