LAND FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3105, 8 June 1917, Page 6

LAND FOR SOLDIERS

; THE GOVERNMENT'S SCHEME POSITION OP i PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES Problems connected with the settlement of soldiers oil tho land were discussed lit yesterday's meeting of tho Advisory Board of the New Zealand Patriotic Societies. The board had before it remits from the district societies, and a report from a sub-committeo appointed previously to considor tho question and confer with the National Efficiency Board. 'I'ho' Wairarapa Patriotic Society had urged that tho Government should be asked to take,steps immediately to provide improved land for returned soldiers, the owners to bo compensated by fair payments "in the vicinity of the value existing before the war." The executive of the Canterbury Patriotic l r und 'had resolved:—"That this executive does not consider the present provision for returned soldiers satisfactory, and strongly urges the Government to initiate a comprehensive scheme for their settlement, and make, adequate provision for placing such men on the land." It is felt by members of the C\t liter bury Society that the Government was not dealing with this matter in a comprehensive way, nor was it providing sufficient inducement to enable soldiers to tako up tho lands which were at present being opened for settlement under the Discharged. Soldiers' Settlement Acts. It was quite impossible _ to expect_ the average discharged soldier to be in a position to take up blocks of land requiring the initial expenditure of several thousands of pounds before any return would be received from the land. Such an example could bo furnished bv the Lees Valley Settlement, which the Minister of Lands stated exemplified the fact that all soldiers are not without ca.pita.l or backing. In this particular, instance, tie society had to grant its maximum to nearly all the applicants who iwre successful, in obtaining sections in the ,Lees Valley Settlement, and it was quite apparent that had not several Canterbury l-unholders generously' furnished the backing necessary to stock the sections practically none of the soldiers who obtained sections would liave been in a position to take. them-up. . The South Canterbury Patriotic Society had resolved: —"That it be a recommendation to the Government that until necessity arises for the same, no more land for-retnrned soldiers shall be opened up." ."In this district," said the society, "estates liave teen cut np lately, and there has not been a demand, from the soldiers to justify the Government m taking thorn np. At present there are several blocks on the properties mentioned which have not been'applied for, and are still available for soldiers if they W The sub-committee ' of the Advisory Board presented a report with the' question, which stated: lour committee, after investigating examples •iVced befme t ail taking into account the fact that the constitution of many of the federated associations debars them from giving financial assistance 'to returned soldiers on tho land and in engaging iu various businesses, came to the conclusion that the problem _could not be successfully, handled by the Advisory Board or the patriotic soscieties. consequently it was resolved "to approach the National Efficiency Board with the object of requesting, that board to accept the duties of assisting the soldiers on the land and into business." With members of the Wairarapa Land Committee, the. committee met the Efficiency Board and" discussed the question very fully. It now made the following propositions: "In special cases the necessity lor a more liberal scale of financial assistance. This point was. illustrated by showing that tho Government in a recent allotment of pastoral land, in Canterbury, made it a condition that the land could not be granted unless 'the applicant was. in a position to guarantee that he could! arrange for JSSOO in addition to the JJSOO Government grant. This guarantee was obtained as follows:— Canterbury Patriotic Association J!2OU, and private donor .£3OO. ... It was pointed out that the stock was required immediately, and if tho settlers could not finance it was not good business for them to be allowed to take up the selection." The committee pointed out that the National Efficiency Board was the proper board to inquire into tKe question of the best means of settling soldiers on the land, and as it had appointed trustees consisting of practical men all over New Zealand, it was in a position to get information. It was further suggested that the Efficiency Board inquire,into the question of the leases of the hill countyy in the South Island, it having been reported to the committee that many of the lessees had practically no security of tenure, and in consequence were not on-, couraged as they should be to improve their properties. The board was also asked to inquire into the, question of orchard lands in Motneka and Otago Central. The question of poultry farms was discussed, and it 'was urged that these were a comparatively easy proposition. There would be little difficulty iu making the requisite arrangements' whenever applicants were forthcoming. The committee considered that this class of farm and bee culture could be advantageously developed in conjunction with the Rural "Workers' Homes. Undeveloped Busli Areas. —As the Government haS some areas open for' selection and several other large areas in view, and as the "expense of development was not great, the committee considered that the financial assistance of .£SOO would be sufficient to' give -a settler a good start, but that when he had made improvements and thus made good it would be necessary for provision to be made 'to continue the financial assistance as is done under the Loans to Settlers Act. Small Pastoral and Dairy Farms.—'The committee considered that the Government assistance on these farms was ample when good experienced men are tho men receiving help. Under other circumstances more finance would be required. " ■ The committee had put the position fully before the Efficiency Board iwitli all tho information at its disposal. "The settlement of soldiers," the report concluded, "is a responsibility that the Dominion must shoulder, and in the most libera] spirit, not only on behalf of the men, but for the good of 'the Dominion also. It is essential to the welfare of the Men, particularly those who are settling 011 the land and going into business ou.thoir own account, and the closer settlement of the land makes for the general improvement of the country." The chairman (Mr. L. O. IT. Tripp) -said that the National Efficiency Board had written stating that it was not yet ready to'- make its recommendations to the Government regarding tho settlement of returned soldiers on the land. It desired the Advisory Board to study the subject in' t'ho meantime and mako suggestions. Good work was being done already in the settlement of soldiers on the.land, but he was satisfied that the limit of -two for Government advances was 100 low. The men needed more than •CSOO of capital iu some cases in order to get established on their sections. Mr. ]•!. H. Williams (Haw-ke's Bay) said he did not agree that tho returned soldi.irs should all be given first-class laud. Many of them would do much better and get established more easily on second-class laud. Mr. Hope Gibbons (Wauganui) urged that the Efficiency Board should be entrusted with tho task of settling soldiers on the land. He said that the organisation of the National Efficiency Board includes district trustees ■ all over tho Dominion, and it was reasonable to assume that at least 500 trustees and 1000 committeemen are available to assist. Tho trustees and committeemen are representative and practical men who would assist in every way returned soldiers' settlements. Tho Land Department give all the assistance that time ait their disposal will allow, but additional help was required. When a soldier intended to take up land he should be able to'apply to tho local,' Trustee Board for genoral advice. The Patriotic Societies would continue to give their assistance, and the Efficiency Board would bo able to evolve a system of a thoroughly practical kind. Mr. J. J. Dongall (Canterbury) said that the limit of .£SOO for tho Government's financial assistance was far too low. Tho money was not enough to eftnblish a man in holdings of the kind that

the Government was offering to the returned soldier. Ho could mention a case where a returned soldier was offered asection, tliat would have involved a cash j outlay of over «£G(H) lor fencing and tho jilrst half-year's rent. Men who wero to be placed on large. {sections of partially- ; improved land must have adeqnato capital if tliey wero to prove successful. ■Mi"* Williams said the trouble was that 1 the-Government did not tako expert advice in these matters. It followed a course of its own, regardless of tho fact that thoroughly experienced men \vere ready to assist.

ilr. Hope Gibbons urged tiiat it would be a mistake to nsk 100 much. He c«ted the case of a returned soldier who had taken, up a "bush section and had wished to spend about .£ISOO on improvements during tho first year. The men must be to develop their sections"'slowly, lhey could not expect to bo placed in a comfortable financial position, right at the start.

■I lie lion. J. T. Paul said that far too much was being expected of tho Efficiency Board. The members were very able business men,,but they were not farmers. They were n6t as well qualified as the Land Boards to deal with the question of soldiers' settlement.

Mr. Williams suggested that,the Government should be asked to tset up a special committee to consider the question of land for soldiers. The Efficiency Board and the Advisory Board should be represented, and the other members of the committee should be practical farmers. . \ .Mr. Homs Gibbon said that the Efficiency Board, had the assistance of advisory committees of practical farmers throughout New Zealand. The local trustee boards were /particularly well qualified to handle the question of soldiers' settlements. It should bo remembered that many of the returned soldiers would have some capital of their own. The Lands Department was showing an earnest desire to get soldiers on blocks that undoubtedly demanded a larger amount tof capital than ,£SOO. These blocks could not be cut up in all cases. Mr. Williams said he had got over tho difficulty of settling men on fruit farms by planting the trees and then arranging for the men to wosk on adjoining sections, and learn the business while the orchard was growing.

After some further discussion the Funds Sub-committee was directed to proceed with its inquiries. Mr. W. P. Kirkwood (Taranaki) was added to the committee.