A Land Fit for Heroes?

absolutely fed up

Simes block was Freehold, Lot 2, Portion 84, in the Land District of Lismore, Parish of Dunoon, County of Rous.[1] He wanted to use the land for dairying.  Charles and his brother Robert leased their land from their mother, Martha.[2] (Robert’s Loan No. 3031).  Charles took up his holding 5 July 1922.[3]

Charles’s application for a loan was approved on 23 January 1921.[4]

Around 19 December 1922, he applied to pay his loan annually.  This option was declined by the Under Secretary who stated

that only those who receive their income annually should be allowed to make repayments once each year, but those who derive their income from dairying and receive monthly cheques or from vegetable growing should make repayments once every three months.[5]

Simes on the other hand, believed that by paying yearly he would be able to manage his debts better.  He claimed  ‘that owing to the low price paid for dairy produce in 1921 and the drought of last year which has not broken and is now reaching an alarming state of affairs, [he] would not be able to meet quarterly payments’.[6]

In April 1924, he claimed that the agreed repayment date for his Advance was to be finalised six years after application, which was on 23 Sep 1926.  The Department however required payment by 23 Sep 1925.  Simes challenged this:, ‘now sir, if you read the agreement again you will find your error and I hope it will be corrected’.[7]

Simes also believed he had been charged far too much interest.  He wrote to the Department in October 1925, protesting at the size of his quarterly repayments.

I have been absolutely fed up with this loan and will be glad when I have paid the last instalment.  All through I have been treated as if I was trying to evade payment.[8]

Discussion about the correct interest amount owed by Simes continued and was still being discussed in April 1927 with the Crown Lands Bailiff at Lismore requested an interview with Simes.[9] It seems however that Simes had to continue making his payments quarterly and had repaid the Advance in full by 27 September 1926.[10] The perception that they had been cheated and short changed was not uncommon amongst soldier settlers.  Simes was a case where a returned soldier argued fiercely for what he saw as just entitlement.

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/6900 No. 3030] Charles William Simes, Application for Loan November 1919.

[2] Ibid, Director of SS Report 21 January 1920.

[3] Ibid, Inspection of Returned Soldiers Holdings 18 October 1922.

[4] Ibid,  RSS Branch Office Memorandum 21 January 1920.

[5] Ibid, Acting Under Secretary for Lands to Charles W. Simes 19 December 1922.

[6] Ibid, RSS Branch Office Memorandum 9 May 1923.

[7] Ibid, Simes to Under Secretary fro Lands 14 April 1924.

[8] Ibid, Charles Simes to Mr. Messingham 19 October 1925.

[9] Ibid, H.G. Barrie District Surveyor to Under Secretary 22 April 1927.

[10] Ibid, Department of Lands Memorandum 8 October 1926.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files; [12/6900 No. 3030] Charles William Simes.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Charles William Simes) online: http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=8083883&I=1&SE=1