NAME Edward Rusater MALONEY
BORN Abt. 1879
DIED 27 April 1928.
MILITARY SERIAL NO. 11100
UNIT 1st A.M.J.
ENLISTED Moree 17 August 1915
DISCHARGED Sydney 20 October 1919

(My) wife and self are having a very hard time of it, [we are] in a tent on the creek and no shade.

Edward Maloney’s block consisted of 1514 acres and was a Homestead Farm No. 19/4.  The block was in the County of Urana, Parish of Cullivel, Urana Land District.[1] The block was from Urangeline Estate, Urana. He applied for his loan on 19 March 1920, and it was approved on 30 April 1920.[2]

On 21 August 1920, D. Chapman of the Lockhart Repatriation Committee wrote to the Director of Soldier Settlements urging that the timber Maloney had requested be supplied from the Urangeline Estate as there was not a ‘stick of timber on his property’.[3] He also recommended that authority be given to pay for a sulky.[4] As Maloney’s furniture had not been sent to him, the delay was ‘causing much inconvenience’.[5] On 1 October, 1920, Chapman wrote again complaining about the delay in issuing refunds to Maloney for other items.[6]

On 23 November 1920 Maloney wrote to the Director himself as he had still not received any of the timber to build his house. ‘[M]y wife and self are having a very hard time of it, [he protested, we are] in a tent on the creek and no shade.’[7]

In June 1922, Maloney was contemplating selling his property, but was advised by A.A. Watson the Director of SS that he would have to satisfy two District Court writes to the amount of £13.1.6 and £38.19.2 respectively, before he did so.[8]

Maloney was still on the block in July 1923, when Inspector Small judged him to be ‘satisfactory but did not have the means to stock the farm’. [9] The Inspector also suggested that Maloney be allowed to sub-let the farm, until he could get enough capital to stock it’.[10] In October 1923, Maloney applied for consolidation of his advance.[11] Approval was given for this to occur on 24 November 1923.[12] By 16 December 1924 however, Maloney had arrears on his interest and principal amounting to £162.4.3.[13] On 10 July 1925, the Conveyancer of the Government Savings Banks of NSW reported that they had agreed to advance Maloney the sum of £1000, for fencing, the purchase of more sheep, shearing expenses and various debts.[14] This advance was subject to the Minister postponing other mortgages held by Maloney.[15] The Under Secretary agreed to this providing Malone pay out of the Bank’s Advance the £136.14.0 that he owed the Department of Lands.[16] This was agreed to by the RSS Branch on 2 September 1925.[17] The equity in Maloney’s property was considered to be considerable and it was thought that there would be no risk to the Department of Lands.[18] Approval was given on 21 July 1927 for a further £650, with the Bank estimating that the present sale value of Maloney’s property being £2643.[19] Maloney had also applied for another £900 and part of this was to pay in arrears on his instalments and advance, debts on stock and a reduction of his store account.[20] It is not clear if Maloney received this further amount.

Toward the end of 1927 Maloney became very ill with a malignant growth in his mouth and jaw.  He was suffering severely and unable to give the time and attention needed to his block.[21] It was very dry in that year and although Maloney wished to sell his property, he was unwilling to do so in a market that was bad.[22]

Malone passed away on 27 April 1928.[23] The property was transferred to Alexander Donald Low of Lockhart who was a civilian. [24] The RSS Advance was repaid in full by July 1929.[25]

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files; [12/6985 No. 4096], Application for Loan 19 March 1920.

[2] Ibid, Application for Advance 29 April 1920.

[3] Ibid, D.Chapman, Lockhart Repatriation Local Committee to the Director of Soldiers Settlements 21 August 1920.

[4] Ibid, 25 September 1920.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid, 1 October 1920.

[7] Ibid, E.R. Maloney to the Director of SS 23 November 1920.

[8] Ibid, A.A. Watson to Edward Rusater Maloney, 6 June 1922.

[9] Ibid, Inspection of Returned Soldiers’ Holdings 6 July 1923.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Ibid, Application for Consolidation of Advance 8 October 1923.

[12] Ibid, Department of Lands Memorandum 24 November 1923.

[13] Ibid, Under Secretary to E.R. Maloney 16 December 1924.

[14] Ibid, Conveyancer of the Government Savings Banks of NSW 10 July 1925.

[15] Ibid.

[16] Ibid, Under Secretary for Lands to the Conveyancer of the Government Savings Bank of NSW 4 September 1925.

[17] Ibid, RSS Branch Report 2 September 1925.

[18] Ibid, Trevor Jones and Lappin Solicitors to Under Secretary for Lands 3 September 1925.

[19] Ibid,  Government Savings Bank of NSW to Under Secretary for Lands 21 July 1927.

[20] Ibid, A.W. Turner to Government Savings Bank of NSW 3 August 1927.

[21] Ibid, Trevor Jones and Lappin Solicitors 12 October 1927 to Under Secretary for Lands, 12 October 1927.

[22] Ibid.

[23] Ibid, State Crown Solicitor’s Office Schedule, 8 November 1928.

[24] Ibid, W.J. Roper to F.V. Maloney, 28 February 1928.

[25] Ibid, Loans Report, 13 July 1929.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files; [12/6985 No. 4096] Edward Rusater Maloney.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Edward Rusater Maloney) online: http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=8206390&I=1&SE=1