SOLDIERS ON THE LAND.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16422, 16 January 1919, Page 8

SOLDIERS ON THE LAND.

HOW ONE MAN MADE GOOD,

How one returned soldier, a Main Body man, has made good on the land since his return to " New Zealand was shown in. a letter written by him to tjje secretary of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund, and read to the executive <}f the fund at its meeting yesterday. This man received a loan from the fund of £50 for a period of two years in September, 1916. He took up land at Takapau, in Hawke's Bay, naming his selection "Lone Pine." He paid off the loan on the instalment principle, being the first returned soldier to liquidate his liability to the fund, and then the fund's Agricultural Committee remitted £20 of the amount paid as a gift. In thanking the coipmittee for their gift, the soldier in question said that when he drew his section he only had tho deposit money, but a life-time of experience in all farm work. He drew i a good section with plenty of grass j and natural streams. The Government! advance enabled him to get a house { and a dozen milking cows. As the cream cheques came ill he was able to invest in a plough and discs. He built up, the herd to 21 cows. -i I got the extra cows," he said, "through the Hawke's Bav Farmers'. I paid 7 per cent, interest, and the rest off in instalments. They were very good, and allowed me to pay just what I could spare each month. I have them fully ,paid up now. It was a great struggle at first, but now I find I am getting on well. I might mention I have never had a day's holiday off the place since I got it, but I am quite satisfied, as I see a good prospect ahead of me. This year is good so far, and the feed i& wonderful. I have already taken off a splendid crop of barley. There is no doubt the Government has given us good land. In conclusion I ask you to convey to the committee my grateful thanks for their kindness, and I can assure them the money will be spent with care -on stock. If at any time any of the committee visit Takapau I would ask them to this block and see for themselves how we are doing."