LAND FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 3, 28 September 1917, Page 6

LAND FOR SOLDIERS

A SCHEME OF ACQUIREMENT

COMPULSORY REDUCTION OP

LARGE ESTATES

(From Our Special Correspondent.) Mastorton, September 27. At the meeting of the IVairarapa Pat- 1 riotic Association yesterday the report ot' tho Land Committee was submitted as follows:—

, "This association agrees with the Marlborough Patriotic Association, tliafc the Government has not formulated any repatriation scheme for training and settling Soldiers on the land, and as tlio fession: is now drawing to a close wo realiso that owing to the many appeals from all parts, of the Dominion practical and immediate action should be taken for re-establishing these homc-coming men, and we approve. 1/ j. a - deputation representing combined I atnotio Associations waiting • ■upon tho Government asking for immediate action to bo taken, at tho 6amc time (.ffering suggestions by which such scheme'would bo worked. This association agrees with the suggestion that training farm 6 should, be established in suitable centres in different parts of the Dominion. Reviewing the details of tho scheme suggested by the Marlborough Patriotic Association, which are largely compiled from the Australian repatriation scheme, we think some of tho suggestions are good, but cannot agree with the main principle of the scheme, which is that the patriotic societies should obtain offers of land to be purchased by tlie Government. We tiiink that something more definite and compulsory should bo urged upon the Government; and ( we strongly support tha scliome adopted by this association on the motion of Mr. A. P. Whatman Borne time ago. The followiug is the pro-" posal, which in its broad principle was agreed to by the Dominion Conference ot the New Zealand Farmers' Union-.— I That; if suitable land is not offered for purchase voluntarily, tliis executive recommends that a war regulation be gazetted providing as follows:—For the purpose of acquiring land on which to .settle sol* diers, private estates to be placed 111 6everal classes, the highest class to consist of 6uch properties as are valued for*, taxation purposes at a capital value ofi over ifi , from each of such estates shall be taken -sufficient to reduce them, to the second class of over £— —; if that does not provide sufficient land, proceed in the same manner with the 6econd class, and so on. Under these regulations all (properties shall be considered as a whole,/unless the owner or liis bona fide manager resides OJj the portion held; in their name. That any balance ot land, after soldiers' requirements are mew to bo made available for closer settlement bv other suitable men. That payment for the land taken, to be by. Government debenture, and the . ppce pai" to be a fair value in the vicinity of the valuo existing before the declaration-or war. No one can deny that this is tna fairest way of acquiring improved lM™for discharged soldiers, and is the shorts est cut to. a. Dominion scheme for closer settlement which must follow afteri tho war. The only other alternative would, be for the Government to make the progressive land tax to increase at a mncli more rapid rate, so that it would not be profitable for large owners to occupy the whole of their highly-valued estates. Wo realise that it will be impossible, to place every discharged soldior requiring land on a section straight away; at the same time these j-oung men would naturally like to marry and look forward to owning a section later on. .To keep these young men on the land and attract them back from the towns, the well-to-do faimers must recognise the necessity lor increasing the supply of cottages in country districts, which -is yearly becoming more acute, and should make provision for same. Likewise, our legislators, wliea dealing with the land question," should realise the lack of opportunity such workers would have in obtaining, homes on small sections of land of their own. Therefore, provision should be made lor some form of loan for such discharged men who would like to lake advantage of such a scheme, otherwise lack of housing room will be tho cause of such men migrating to the towns." « . The report was discussed by several members of tho association, and Mr. Aj P "Whatman spoke at 6ome length upon the subject. He stated that every man and woman from the North Cape to the Blug wished to do the right thing by the soldiers. He was sorry to say he could not say the same thing about the Government. Ho produced the last issue of the Land Guide to show that the land, available for discharged soldiers was valueless. He urged that the Government should be pressed to take immediate action in" procuring suitable land for settlement. If they waited until the men came back, they "were only disaster. They should have a Minister of Returned Soldiers, and place the whole administration, including that of lands» in his hands. , The motion,-for the adoption ot the report was carried. It was decided that the resolution be forwarded to the Advisory Board, and that Mr. Whatman be asked to wait upon the board in support of it.

The "Wairarapa Age, in referring in its editorial notes to the gift of 3-9, I acres of land at the laratahi, valued ; at about .£7OOO, by Mr. William Perry, as the nucleus of a farm for the rest and training of returned soldiers, says it is another magnificent tribute to tue patriotism of, Wairarapa settlers. Ihe farm, which it is hopea will ultimately, develop into an agricultural school, wilL be a boon to tlie district,'and, of great immediate benefit to shell-shock soldiers. It will be in the hands of capable .armors, who fully understand the tural and pastoral requirements of ttio Wairarapa, and if carefully managed . should be made almost selteupportiug. Much of the credit r fol \ h \7^„ 6^j ire o f the land is due to Mr. A. M Donald, of Ngakonui. There is reason to hope that tlie institution will be liberally bv A and P.. Associations and by settlers, of the distriot. It should also commend itself to the Government.