AFTER THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2833, 26 July 1916, Page 4

AFTER THE WAR

RURAL LAND FOR SOLDIERS

FARMERS' VIEWS

Various Aspects oC tie question of land for soldiers were interestingly discussed by the .Dominion Conference of the New' Zealand Farmers' Union, yesterday.

The subject was introduced by Mr. T. Mo;s (Eketaliium), who moved: "'That the nearest relatives of men at: present nerving with the Expeditionary Forces be allowed to ballot at land ballots for tho absent soldier on equal terms with returned discharged soldiers." .Tho moTer said tlio idea was simply to placa men who were still in tho fighting zons on a footing with thos<! who had returned and been discharged. The nextwifIriit of men who were still away should be nllowed to ballot for them. Mr, J. Bell (Westland) raised a point about provision against a m.w'ii failure to return after ho had drawn a section. He seconded the motion. ■ Mr. Moss thosght that if a soldier whose next-of-kin had drawn laud were killed at the front tho land would reverl. to the Stale. Mr. .1. Beg? (Oi.igo) Ihouglit that in •such a. case tho land should be retarded as the soldier's estate and dealt will] accordingly. Mr. G. Sheat (Dunsandel) agreed-with Mr. Begg. Mr. Moss said (hat: when the country boys returned there should, be encouragement for them to live again in the country, and not migrate to the towns. The motion was agreed to. Mr. Moss then 'moved:—"That. . the Government be requested to acquire suitable land, especially properties of absentees, for returned' soldiers."" He said that this proposal emanated from the Wairarapa, where it was felt that the Government should acquire some- of the East Coast estates of absentees. The conference adonted tho motion. On the motion of Mr. B. .Dunn (Taranaki) it was resolved: "That where a tenant or joint tenant under any of the land Acts has gone to the war, the time for improvements under the present ;Vct should b" extended until the end of "tho war, and for a fuilber term equal to the time tho tennnt was at war."

The following motion bv Mr. -Dunn (Taranaki), also, was carried: "That this conference urge upon tho. Government the necessity of acquiring suitable dairy lani'i for 1 chimed soldiers in Taranaki.''"