PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3136, 14 July 1917, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

RETURNED SOLDIERS SETTLING THEM ON THE LAND ADDRESS-IN-REPLY HON. G. W. RUSSELL CRITICISES SIR JOHN FINDLAY.

Tho Houso of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday.

The Thames Harbour Board Amendment Bill (Mr. T. \V. Rhodes), the Wellington City Empowering Bill (Mr. R. A. Wright), tho Hawke's Bay Rivers Amendment Bill (Sir John Findlay), tho Dun«lin Waterworks Extension Bill (Mr. C. E. Statham), and tho Napier Harbour Board Empowering and Veiling Bill (Sir John Tindlay) were introduced and read a first time.

DISCHARGED SOLDIERS

SETTLING THEM ON THE LAND. A debate on the efficacy of the measures adopted by the Government for the settlement of soldiers on land was opened on the presentation of the annual report on the drainage of swamp lands. Mr. W. A. VEITCH (Wauganui) suggested that the Government should take over the farms of enlisted or balloted men at valuation, and place returned men upon them. The trusteo boards set up by the National Efficiency Board could not control hundreds of farms.

Mi-. A. S. MALCOLM (Clutha) mado a similar suggestion. Ho said that the pur. chase of small farms as going concerns would bo of great advantage to tho returned soldiers, who would be able to make incomes at once.

Mr. J. A. YOUNG (Waikato) said that under present conditions the farms of enlisted men tended to fall into the hands of speculators and well-to-do neighbours. The matter had been the subject of a report by the National Efficiency Board, and tho House ought to be placed in possession of that board's reports. Tho Efficiency Commissioners were very able men who had done valuable work at tho request of the Government, and their recommendations ought not to be suppressed. Mr. Young demanded that the Government should soy to every returned soldier of good character: "Select a home for yourself, and the State will finance you in the purchase." Each of tho men who had fought for New Zealand was entitled to a footing in tho Dominion, in town or country. Tho rules regarding residence would have to be relaxed iu the settlement of roturned soldiers.

The Hon. D. BUDDO (Kaiapoi) said that some of tho land offered to returned soldiers wag .passing into tho hands of men. who had other land. He urged that the ■ returned men should be given good land. They should be afforded not merely a chance but a good chance of gainins success. Mr. G. V. PEAECE (Pnten) said that some fanners had made substantial sacrifices in order to place land at the disposal of returned soldiers. The Governniont should not put single wen on expensive dairying land, which could not be worked satisfactorily except iby a family. Mr. E. A. WRIGHT Suburbs) said it was undoubtedly a fact that farms wero falling into the hands of foreigners at bargain prices while the owners wero away at tho Iront. 'J'lio Government should stop this process at once and protect the interests of tho soldiers.

Mr. TAU HENAEE (Northern Maori) asked for the protection of the lands of Maori soldiers now at the front. Purchases of Maori land should be suspended until twelve months after the closo of the war.

Tho PRIME MINISTER said that Ihe discussion had been of some value. Ho realised, for example, that something should bo done to protect the interests in land of Maori soldier?. Tin agreed that the provisions of the Land Seltlemont Finance Act should bo extended to soldiers, and hoped to bring down legislation in that direction during the session. A scheme that would enable returned soldiers to form groups 'for the purchase of land with Stato assistance would be very valuable, and flic matter was ,alne,-uly receiving attention. The powers taken already to purchase land for soldiers near the cities under the Public Works Act would prove very useful indeed in the future. Tie was glad to be able to say Chat plenty of land was being offered for soldiers' settlements at reasonable rates. There were very few private land sales taking place at the present time, and many, people wero willing to sell to the Government on good terms. Mr. Young: Why not make it compulsory for them to tnke Government scrip for -their land? Mr. Massey. "It is not necessary. We are beinsr offered more land Mian wo can buy, and the owners are willing to take scrip." He was sure that many of the soldiers' settlement? wore going to prove a success. Mr. Massey added that 400 returned soldiers had applied for specific sections, and of this number 319 had been provided with land, 187 Roinc; on Crown land, and 1.31 on settlement land. The Wellington district, with 121 soldier settlers, was the most favoured. The great majority of the ex-soldiers preferred to settle in the North Island, and several settlements in tho South Island had failed to find applicant;. He did not expect to be able to place soldiors oil the land at a, less average cost than ,£IOOO, but the. money would not be lost, and it would be interest-bearlngr. His own idea was that inexperienced men had better go upon Crown lend, where, if they possessed Che neoessary Ri-it and energy, they would ',-ain knowledge as they brought their holdings into cultivation. More had been done .in Now Zealand towards placing soldiers on theland than in any other country. The work could not slop. He had said lipfore thet li» would ai"i at placing 5000 returned soldiers on the land, and ho would be preniral to go further if Ihe demand existed.