SETTLING SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3097, 30 May 1917, Page 6

SETTLING SOLDIERS

BIG LAND PROBLEM

BACKBLOCKS OR IMPROVED HOLDINGS

SCHEME BY MR. A. P. WHATMAN QUESTION DISCUSSED BY FARMERS (liy Telegraph—Special Reporter.; Marton, May 29. One of New Zealand's most vital" problems was discussed by the Wellington Farmers' Union Conference here 10-day, when. Mr. A. 1 , . Whatman, of Masterton, moved against the official intention to for, the future provide only baeklan dfor returned soldiers,"and u,n■foided a. scheme for settling soldiers ou improved land. Mr. Whatman's scheme is covered by the following proposals, wliich he moved:—

(1) That the Government be urged to immediately provide improved land for returned soldiers. (y That it is an injustice to expect all returned men to take unimproved and bush land after the hardship and sacrifice they have already made for the Umpire. (3) That if suitable land is not offered for purchase voluntarily, this executive recommends that a War Herniation bo gazetted providing as follows for tho purpose of acquiring land on which to settle soldiers: (■1) Private estates to be placed in several classes, tho highest class to consist of such properties as are valued for taxation purposes at a capital value of over X ; from each of such estates shall be taken sufficient to reduce them. The second class of over £ . If that does not provide sufficient land, proceed in the same manner with the second class, and so on. Under these regulations, all properties shall be considered as a whole, ■ unless the owner or his liana-fide manager resides on the portion held in their name.

(5) That the balance of tho land, after soldiers' requirements are met, be made available for closer settlement by other suitable men. (6) That payment for the land taken bo by Government debenture tho price paid to be .a fair value in the vicinity of tho value existing beiore the declaration of war.

.Mr. Whatman said that he had interviewed Sir Francis Bell, Minister in charge of the matter, who had told him that the Government had already spent x<<u,flOo on land for returned soldiers which was .£70,000 more than Parliament liau authorised. Sir Francis Bell had' aaded that lie did not intend to buy any more land at £!> and JJ7 an acre for soldiers, when backbloeks land was avaiiable. A voice: Quite right. . Mr. AVhatinan: "it is next to a criminal, action to send all returned soldiers to backbloeks land. Voices: Question. Mr Whatman: I say all soldiers should not be sent to the backbloeks lo some perhaps it would be no sacri- . Mr. Whatman said he had met men in the Soldiers' Club in Wellington who had been settled on bush land and among them was a. little fellow who had a shoulder smashed and a hand injured at tralhpoli, and this man was nmv on a bush section away back of Wangaiuii. lo tins land there was no road and -ic cess was by. bush track. There was not even a shed to live in. and (he man ived in a dug-out. Where were tlioy to get the improved.land? 110 su»-esi-«l. they should do it by reducing the large estates. It had beeii said that that would , involve sacrifice on the part of land owners, but the onlv New Zealand •men who had made sacrifices were those who had gono to the front. What sacnlice had the remainder made? Our exports had jumped up by .£10,000,000. ■Oi that, 452,000,000 had gono to patriotic iiinds. lhere was a leakage 'of Ji1.000,UOO eomowhere, ami the remaining 4:7,000,000 had gone into*the pockets of the people. A very large number of returned men would wish to go on the land, and if a, large area of country was needed for them the Urge estates should be reduced first, and that would not entail sacrifice.

Mr. Whatman characterised Sir Francist Bell's attitude as most unfortunate und a mere, vapouring 01 , "inpty dictation on a subject that required mature thought.

Mr. W. Douglas (Tir.u.i) seconded the motion.

Mr. ,T. Smith (Taihapp) disagreed with the view that the soldiers should not go on to bush land. He thought they were more 'likely to succeed there (linn on improved land. On the bush section they would hav? material for their fences and so ou, and they would not have the heavy mortgages they would have to carry on improved land.

Mr. IT. A. Kevins (Tiniii) said lie thought it necessary to provide a certain amount of improved land, but he thought the men from whom land was taken should get full value ior it. However, he should advise young able-bodied uumarried men -.to consider the fact thai there wore many instances in which it would "be easily the better course to take up a bush section than to go on to improved land.

llr. .1. 11. Perrett (Feilding) said that the conference was proud to have with it-one of. the most generous patriots iu New Zealand. He referred, he added, to Mr. Whatman. (Applause.)

Mr. 11. Daysh (Jlartinboiough) remarked that Mr. Whatman had among other things given one farm worth xn,mt\-

Sir. P. Beard (Marton) said that to make a success of farming improved land the soldiers might have to be working men all their lives, whereas, after a. fen , years in the baekblocks they should iind their position greatly improved.

Mr. 0. L. Marshall (Marlon), who «greed that land should be provided tor all returned soldiers who needed it, could not agree with Clause G of the scheme. Also, ho did not think many men would want to go on the land who had not been there before.

Mr. W. B. Matheson thought that Mr. Whatman should be heartily thanked for bringing the subject forward, but it was too big a question for a conference of farmers to settle in one afternoon. Regarding the idea of settling tho men on improved land, bought at pre-war rates, he srfil there might be loss to the soldier owners if the value of tho land dropped after the war.

Mr. G. R. Sykos, M.P. (Masterton). said that men were being conscripted for the war because men are needed. If land was needed and was not forthcoming it 100 should bo taken by compulsion, and fairness should be exercised in the taking. Ho observed that as yet no first-class land had been taken fn the Wairarapa.

Mr. W. ,T. Moore (Makuri) said Hie only thing that would anchor a man on bush land waa a wife.

Several amendments to (lie scheme wore proposed.

Mr. A. Robinson (Wnnganui) moved that in view of the mental and physical disabilities under which many of the returned soldiers eufl'er, tho Government I* urged to give more favourable consideration to the settlement of such men on improved land than has hitherto been given.

Mr. ,T. H. Perritt moved that the scheme should be referred to a com. jnittne, to report to the p.onforeiico tomorrow, the committee to ljo Messrs..G. Marshall (Marlon). A. P. Whatman (Mastnrton). W. B. Mntlieson (Eketahmia). G Sykos, M.P. (Masterlon), A.. Stuart (Marton), W. S. Birch (Morton), and J. H. Perrott (Foilding).

Mr. TV. B. Matheson moved that tie scheme bo referred to tho National Tlffipipiip.y Board with a rcnucst thai: it

.should lake evidence from Mr. Whatman nr Diivono tlsp. in order to lay before the Government the best possiblo scheme

for encouraging returned soldier? In settle on the land with a good prospect of success.

air. .I.'Balsillie (Palnierston North) moved Hint delegated from Hie provincial conferences should draw up a scheme for submission to tho Dominion Conference.

lilr. Perretl's amendment' was carried, a7)d the discussion was closed for the day.