LAND FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3135, 13 July 1917, Page 6

LAND FOR SOLDIERS

HON. G. W. RUSSELL'S IDEAS THE TAUPO DISTRICT 'An address on tho settlement of soldiers on land and other topics of interest to n ™ ne i ,uen Wl,s delivcrwl by tho Hon. w. n . Kussell at the Returned Soldiers' Uiub. i

Hi. lvussell said that as tho men returned most of them would go back to their previous occupations, but when the main body of the troops returned in iiirgo numbers tho problem of accommodating the men would bo a very great one. The Government would have to con. site the question of whether they could provide the funds necessary for largo railway and α-oad works to give men employment. But even if the funds could »o iound, his own desiro was not to see soldiers on their .return reduced to tho level of co-operative workers, going from lob to job, but to see them settled on the land. Hβ recognised that it woiild not be possible to settle soldiers on tho •high-priced lands which were being offered to the Government til from MO to •£9O per acre in some' cases, lands contiguous to ordinary settlement. In hia opinion the most satisfactory scheme ■would be to establish largo soldier settlements in tho interior of tho .North Island, where men would by their labour increase the value of lands now lowpriced, and where largo bodies of men could be placed. He spoke particularly of tho Taupo district, saying that the land there was particularly suitable for the purpose. A few years ago the laud in the vicinity of Putaruru was regarded as olmost valueless; now it was worth many pounds per acre in consequence of the settlers having discovered the proper fertilisers to use and the proper treatment for tho rail. There were millions of acres of the same class of land in the Tanpo area, and his opinion was that it was here that soldier settlements should be established on similar lines to the original soldier settlements at Hamilton and Cambridge. The land had tmber upon it, plenty of water, a moist climate, and it responded vapidly to cultivation and the use of fertilisers, while experience had shown that it was admirably adapted for growing clover. If the scheme were followed, town- . ships could be established within tho area, and by a system of co-operation, assisted by expert advice from those who had had. experieiu; of this country; it was certain, in his opinion, that in a few years Jarge areas of the land would become equally as good for dairying purposes as the high-priced lands now being used for this purpose in other localities. The Minister said that he would bo prlnil to meet the executive of the association and go fully into the matter. He suggested that a Board of Advice should be set up, assisted by some of the practical farmers who were such enthusiastic supporters of the association. These, fnniiprs misrlit visit the district to see wheffier. the scheme was worth trial. He emphasised the importance of settlers not being loaded on the threshold of their careers with huge capital liabilities which would be ji burden to them all their lives. The object should be to place soldiers on such kind as would allow them by their own efforts to become freeholders and proprietors, receiving themselves tlie increase in the value of the land, coming- -as the result of their labour.

Mr. J. D. Harper, president of the Returned Soldiers' Association, moved <a vote of thanks to Mr. Russell for his addrae, and said that his proposals would receive the consideration of the executive..'

The vote of thanks was carried.