LAND FOR SOLDIERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 44, 28 January 1944, Page 5

LAND FOR SOLDIERS

DETAINEES AT GALATEA

R. ACTION SUPPORTED

Unanimous support for the " Whakatane branch of the Returned) Services' Association was . given by the Whakatane Coun- . ty Council concerning the prospects of settling returned sol- • diers on Government-held land at Galatea which is at present l>eing farmed by conscientious • objectors. The council took the view that with so many men returning to the Dominion, it was time* the Government took a firm grip of some suitable tract of productive land upon which to introduce its Rehabilitation Scheme. Gr Luxton informed the Council lie represented the R.S.A. "which had already moved in the matter. At Galatea there was a total - of 35,000 acres of which some 8000 uteres was described as heavy country now being farmed by men who were conscientious objectors. The Dominion Executive of the R.S.A. was now bc.ing approached; to bring • pressure to bear on the Govern.-, ment to have this thrown open for r immediate' settlement, by men who ihad served overseas. The local as- -• sociation desired to see the estate populated by men whose claims de- - served recognition. When 8000' acres • of State-held land was being i'arm- • ted by men who refused to fight for their country, and there were men who returning from the war zones "desired to go farming, the position "was altogether wrong. Policy Wrong 'Cr MeCrackcn said he also felt 'strongly about the: matter and thought the Council should take the matter up. At the present time men who were coming back went Tound. the country selecting suitable farms and buying them from men who were already producing. 'The scheme, was economically un.sound and altogether wrong. Ihe men should be settled on new areas :and the Galatea block was ideal. Cr Cawte said, that in his. opinion the Government officials administrating the. estate were determined not to get rid of it. as it created too many 'soft jobs.' Here was a place capable of taking a hundred ..soldier settlers at once. Permanent Tenure Cr McCrcady advised the Council •to have nothing to do with the. Rehabilitation Scheme as it stood at present until there was a guarantee -of land tenure. Until the right of --ownership was given, any assistance towards the scheme, was merely playing 'judas' to the men who were coming back. The chairman (Mr J. L. Burnett): We could at least agitate for the freehold to the men. Cr McCready: But see to it that this is granted; before, these men are -settled, at Galatea. Otherwise we :are tacit parties to the present Government policy. Cr McCrackcn thought that at the present time there was room at least, for HO settlers with a growing number on the Horomunga areas, as they Ave re- deweloped. The Council decided' to open the matter up by Avriting the Minister •of Lands asking if the Government's Rehabilitation Scheme included* the intention of settling the Galatea Estate by men .returning from overseas including the fourteen farms hoav held by sharemilkers.