A Land Fit for Heroes?

I have kept up my payments…  under the hardship of farming

William Treloar’s block consisted of 700 acres and was in the County of Bourke, Parish of Ardlethan, Temora Land District.  He applied for his Advance on 14 March 1920.[1] This was approved 9 December 1920.[2]

William and his brother who had the adjoining block were judged to be practical farmers of the right stamp who should do well, given normal conditions.[3] On 11 November 1920, William Treloar wrote to the Director of SS stating that he had an agreement with the vendor which allowed him full possession of his property from 1 March 1920. [4] On 19 January 1921, the Acting Director of SS A.A. Watson requested that as each brother had received a loan in their own name that all correspondence should be signed individually and not using the plural – Treloar Brothers.[5]

In June 1922, Treloar questioned the new directive that required repayments quarterly rather than yearly.[6] There is nothing to indicate that his payments were kept yearly.  Treloar repaid his loan in full on 24 March 1924.[7]

On 10 February 1936, Treloar questioned an amount of 11/3d that the RSS Branch said he owed.  ‘I failed to see where this amount comes in… prior to the re-appraisement I have paid a fair amount in advance’.  He went on, ‘I have kept up my payments… under the hardship of farming during the last few years.  I have had a lot more consideration shown by local and civil bodies of creditors’.[8] He was informed that the amount he questioned had been charged to him because of late payments of money owed.[9]

It appears Treloar paid the 11/3d but in the meantime the RSS Branch had waived the amount due.  He therefore asked for a credit of the 11/3d against his instalments.[10] The pursuit of comparatively small sums of money swallowed vast amounts of time and government resources.  Given the meagre returns, it posed a disproportionate burden on the state’s soldier settlers.

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/6985 No. 4087] William John Clarence Treloar, Application for loan 13 March 1920.

[2] Ibid, Application for Advance 9 December 1920.

[3] Ibid, R.H. Welsh? To the Director SS 26 March 1920.

[4] Ibid, W.J.C. Treloar to Director of SS 11 November 1920.

[5] Ibid, Acting Director A.A. Watson to W.J.C. Treloar, 19 January 1921.

[6] Ibid, W.J.C. Treloar to RSS Branch 18 June 1922.

[7] Ibid, RSS Branch Office Memorandum 12 June 1924.

[8] Ibid, W.J.C. Treloar to Director of SS 10 February 1936.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Ibid, 28 March 1936.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files; [12/6985 No. 4087] William John Clarence Treloar.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (William John Clarence Treloar) online: http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=8393907&I=1&SE=1