SOLDIER SETTLEMENT.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16852, 4 June 1920, Page 6

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT.

THE STOPPAGE OF LOANS. DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS. (tress association telegram.) WELLINGTON. June 3. A deputation consisting of the whole of the It.S.A. Conference waited on tbo Prime Minister and Minister of Lands to-day to lay before them matters in connexion with tbo stoppage of loans under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act. They asked that iautructions bo given to Land Boards to receive applications in respect of tbe commitments entered into before April 1 22nd. The Minister of Lands said that the' soldiers themselves could not bo moro enthusiastic than the members of Cabinet in regard to providing i'or soldiers on the land. Unfortunately the demands which came in were so great that the provision proved inadequate. At the first opportunity he sounded a note of warning. From April, 1919, to March, the total expended was £12,610,000, or £1,100,000 more than was authorised, in April this year £885,000 was spent. Mr Guthrie relorrcd to the fact that even the littlo cassation which had taken place had had a steadying effect on the inflation of land values. Cabinet's decision was not to cut off the supply, but to steady it, and, if possible, to give up buying lnuscs, because that was not increasing the supply of houses. Clause 2 of the Act liud been inserted to meet the needs of disabled and injured men who could not take up land requiring strenuous working. The Government thought tho time had arrived When they should ease _up on tho one-man-one-farm proposition, especially when they had G1 improved * estates and Crown land, or altogether 700,000 acres, for settlement.

In reply to a question. Mr Guthrie said that applications would bo received by Land Boards and each Considered on its merits. They had £332,000 in hand for stocking and improvements, and the Minister of Finance had given authority to go to half a million a month until Parliament met, and decided the question. The Prime Minister said he had promised to find half a million, and instead had found three millions. That was no breach of promise. Wha.t had been done was necessary from a financial point of view, and also for the good of tho country, as the purchasing of land was helping to create a boom. The financial position was what they

wore up against, but consistent with keeping finances in a sound condition,' everything possible would be done to place soldiers on the land. Jle advised the men to go on part of the large fcrea of Crown land which was being made available, so that they could get experience gradually, instead of starting on land at £25 to £50 an acre. Mr Mas-

sry read the actual Cabinet minute on tho subject as follows: "Effort to be concentrated on settlement rf land al- . ready purchased, and Crown land available. Operations .under section 2 of the 1917 Act to be tapered off. . No more houses in centres to be purchased unler* for special rensons.'' Mr Massey said that the contracts entered, into before Cabinet came to its decision would regarded as a reason for special consideration.

A resolution was 'subsequently carried by the conferenro expressing general dissatisfaction with the Prime Minis- - ter's reply, and appointing a sub-com-mittee to draw up a resolution covering the various issues raised during tie deputation's interview.