§ 7. Mr. JOWETTasked the Undersecretary of State for War if he is aware that discharged crippled soldiers are in some cases sent home with their luggage without any provision being made for conveying them to their homes when they reach the town in which they reside; and if he will instruct the officers in charge of war hospitals to notify the officers commanding Motor Volunteers when they are sending a discharged crippled soldier home and request them to arrange to meet the soldier at the nearest railway station and convey him to his own home?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNo, Sir: I am not aware of this, but the attention of all concerned will be drawn to the desirability and necessity for seeing that such soldiers are conveyed to their homes in the most comfortable circumstances.
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERWill the suggestion be adopted that the officers commanding the Motor Volunteers should be notified when these men are sent?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI will look into it.
§ 32. Mr. ANDERSONasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Crown colony at Holbeach has been planned out for small holdings mainly for ex-Service men; whether thirty cottages have been built, scattered over the estate; whether he can state why these cottages have not been provided with outbuildings in any shape or form; whether he is aware that the lack of outbuildings will prevent small holders from keeping poultry and pigs and interfere with the efficient working of the estate; and what steps he proposes to take?
§ Sir R. WINFREYIt is the intention to divide the Crown colony at Holbeach into small holdings for ex-Service men. Sixty-six new cottages with the necessary outbuildings will be provided. Nineteen of these are now in course of erection. Outbuildings 1230 have not been proceeded with up to the present, as it is hoped that some of the Army hutments may be utilised for the purpose. If this can be done, a considerable saving in the cost of equipment will be effected with a consequent reduction in the rent that will be charged to the settlers.