GIFT LAND FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 88, 7 January 1918, Page 6

GIFT LAND FOR SOLDIERS

MR. G. HUNTER'S OFFER. The Prime Minister (Mr. Massey) made some further reference on Saturday to the offer of Mr. G. Hunter, M.P., to transfer 2535 acres of freehold land to the Government for settlement by returned soldiers. Mr. Huuter stipulated that the sections should be allotted by ballot, the ballot to take place after tho close of the war. "It is not iuteuded," said Mr. Massey, "that the settlers going on to the land so generously given by Mr. Hunter should got it free of rental tr my further payment. The details have not been worked out, but will be arranged later, probably between Mr. Hunter and myself. 'Mr. Hunter's intention is that the payment either on account of rental or of capital value v'ill be used for a purpose such as scholarships for the orphans of Now Zealand soldiers who have been killed during the war, or perhaps for improving tnc conditions or special cases in_ the way' of incapacitated or partially incapacitated men. "The point I want to mako clear :s that the land will be for the benefit cf New Zealand soldiers generally, and that even the New Zealand Government will not benefit by the gift except in the way of havins more a;ood lend on which to place soldier settlers when the war comes to an end." It is understood that the val'o of tho land included in the gift is not less than £30,000.