NEW ZEALAND R. S. A.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 15, 25 June 1920, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND R. S. A.

SUSPENSIGN OF ADVANCES r - SECTION 2, DISCHARGED S0L> I SETTLEMENT ACT. I (Copy of schedule of "special . stances" which was compiled iu I to suggestion of Hon. Minister 0f t!!%| and forwarded for suhmission G nri I on June 5th, 1920.) CablD4 1 MEMO. FOR THE HON. MINISTEp LANDS FilOM THE . ..z. 0? As a result of the conferences yourself and the representatives of the N? R.S.A., the Executive, sub -committee f the Association begs to put on record th following statement of the position ' It is undestood : 1.— That all applications under the Act j will be received and considered. j 2.— That all applications for loans iot ] the purpose of building new houses (and i| ] necessary for the purchase of the sectiom ] also). will be approved by the Land Board and monies made available by th, Government in the same way as beforj ] the 22nd April last; i.e., "special circu®. ] stances' ' will not be taken into account, j the sole question being -one of fair and reasonable value. 3. — That all applications for loans fot the purpose of buying houses alrrndy built will in "special circumstances" be ap. proved by the Land Boards, and moni« made available by the Government as Jf. fore 22nd April last. The Executive Sub-Committee submha that "special circumstances" are to incluit the following cases : — (a) — Applications already approved. j (b) — Applications made at any time ii pursuance of a contract entered into a Option taken on or before 22nd April last (c)— Applications made for the purchas of a house by a married discharged soldieij who has no freehold and no teasehold premises for more than one year from April 22nd, 1920. (d) — Any other application in respect oi which there will be undue hardship to the soldier, or to his dependents, if the loan is not granted. It is understood that these proposals ' are made to tide over any difficulties that may exist until Parliament has provH/ i sufficient funds to enable the Departmai j to carry on the administration of the ' D.S.S. Act as before 22nd April last. We need hardy point out that para-, ] graphs 1, 2, and 3, of this memo. on page ! 1, have already been agreed to by yourself, I and that you have agreed to the "special circumstances" as set out in paragraphi (a) and (b) on page one. We understand, also, that you hara agreed to the principle embodied in paragraphs (c) and (d). For the Executive Sub-CommiUe oi the N.Z. R.S.A. (Sgd.) D. Stanley Smith, Chairman, (Copy of reply of the Hon. Minister oi J Lands, received 16th June, 1920). Dear sir. — Immediately on receipt of your > J letter of the 5th instant in regard to the above I submitted the points raised to the j Under-Secretary of Lands for a departmen- I tal report and for a legal expression oi 1 opinion as to how far they could be givffl I effect to in view of the small amount now I remaining in the fund. The papers were j returned to me yesterday, when brought | them before Cabinet for consideratiop. : After going very fully into the matter in | all its aspects, I was direeted by Cabinet to inform you that it cannot see its ,V3J ] to commit the Government to the siigg®^ ] ions made, for the following reasons:- | 1. — To give effect to them would ento j a commitent upon the fund beyond ® | authority provided by Parliament ^ J session. Such a course is impossi e ^ Cabinet cannot a-nticipate the act'°" ° | Parliament with respect to such ma ^ 2.— In the administration of this i»po ant branch of the Lands Departmen . i I discretionary powers granted to the ■ istrative officers cannot te rest,nc any way'if the transaction of the 1 in an efficient manner is to be main ^ j I am instructed to advise you | for the information of your j that all applications presented wi ^ j ceived and considered on the me ^ | each case. Until Parliament me ^ ^1 decides what- amount can be a ° . nCial 1 such advances during the curieI11 curtafl year, the . decision of Cabinet ^ ^ I reccmmendations must be 61YfiI| jgmnnd 1 as the funds at present avai a such ourtailment. re yo« It is unnecessary for me o ^ 1 that Cabinet and the Mmis« ^ j of this branch of the ^^patby ^ j nation activities is » f th;„g f j the returned soldier, an J sible will be done to ^ ^ {una to & I amount now remaining 1D , n 9 best advantage. Yours (Sgd.) D, H. Guthrie, Mr^e