SOLDIERS FARMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 201, 14 May 1918, Page 6

SOLDIERS FARMS

it(To the Editor.) Sir,—l have read Mr. Jlaar's letter with much interest, pointing out tho many difficulties they hare hnd to put up with on their farms for tho wuut of roads, water, etc. I walked over the greater part of this Putarino Settlemeat with n soldier who drew a section about July last. I can endorse every woru ot Mr.' Haar's letter to be absolutely correct as far as roads and water are concerned. On going down to this flat where Mr. Haar's section is I could scarcely believe my own eyes to think that any Government official would havo ever thought of putting men into such n place to milk cows, where there woro no means of access whatever with the exception of this bit.of a truck referred to. Being on the committee of the Marton Patriotic Society, 1 reported this deplorable state of affairs at the first meeting after my visit to the settlement, saying that the maUer lvuutoil urgent attention. Whether it was the duty of the society or not I <iid not know. The matter was fully discussed. As the chairman was leaving tor Wellington tha following day nionjc with the county engineer on other business, the matter was left in his hands to report to the proper authorities in Wellington, which he did, so iilr. Hoar's interests were not neglected altogether. But who has been responsible for the delay in not getting the road through? I cannot answer, lt certainly shows that there is a very weak link somewhere in the chain of administration, a.s a place of this sort should certainly have been roacled before a soldier was asked to go on to it, as it is not only placing him under hardships, but it is a vast waste of public money putting men on land when it is impossible to get anything to or from their sections. It is absolutely absurd to think that under these circumstances they can niamige to pny their rent. Undoubtedly a number of our returned men who nre going on to the land have not too much farm knowledge or experience, 60 that they don't want obstacles of this sort in their way. I would suggest that the soldiers referred to plnco their grievances before the member for the district to see into, as it might help'to prevent instances of this sort occurring again. The Government is continually preaching economy, but it is u pity for the country that they would not study economy a' "little more themselves. Mr. Haar considers no one cares how they are getting alon?. but the soldiers on this particular flat have my sympathy. 1 often wondered how they were setting nloiig and who was the responsible person for putting them into such an infernal place to milk cows without a road. —I am, etc., ALEX. STUART. Hoatnn Pnrk, Marton, May 13, 1918.