LAND FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 236, 24 June 1918, Page 8

LAND FOR SOLDIERS

EFFICIENCY COMMISSIONER'S VIEW THE PROBLEM OP PRICES Tho important problem of placing soldiers on the land has been discussed at length by the Advisory Board of tho Feooi-ation of the New Zealand Patriotic \Yar Uelief Societies. The Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association forwnrded tin opinion on tho question from .ilr. .lames iii-gg, Efficiency Goniraissionor for the (Jtago .Military District, which was as follows:— "1 am of opinion that tho Patriotic AssofiifttiOimhijiliieirouKiy urge that tne settlement of returned soldiers on the land should now he discontinued in so far as unimproved or partially improved tiihis are concerned. Tub coat of putting necessary ■ improvements on tho laud is now so great that returned eoldiers are placed under such a iovero handicap that a largo percentage will ho certain to fail. The cost of tho materials which have necessarily to be placed 011 unimproved land has increased enormously since pre-war times. Estimated increases are aa follow: —Uuildiugs from 20 pei , cent, to 50 per cent.; implement from ft per cent, to 100 per cent.; fencing ,wire aud biwbed wiro from 300 per cent, upwards, l'lncing men on unimproved land under this handicap seems to mo a terrible mistake, and 1 think it should he stopped absolutely in the meantime. Both in the puMic interest tiiul in the interest of the returned soldiers themselves it would bo much better if the opportunities oft'ered to relumed soldiers to take up laud, were deferred till prices cume back to some approaching normal. Tho price of live stock is another factor which 1 have not specially stressed because commensurate returns can possibly bo earned within a reasonable, timo, but it is true that the amount of capital required In purchase live stock, is far above normal, and in my opinion thero will be a slump in prices within a few years. High wages lire being paid for country labour, and it would be much more in returned soldiers' interest that they should lake situations, and while giiiiiinx experience, add a little to their citpiUil while waiting for prices to return to normal before taking up land for themselves." It was reported that tho following letter had been received by the hon. secretary of the board from Mr. William I'erguson, chairman of the National Efficiency Hoard:—

"1 have lo acknowledge the receipt of your lutter of the Bth instant covering copy of a letter forwarded by Mr. James \i<?«« to tho Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association, and by thftt association referred to the AdvSory.. Board. Your letter arrived during .tho sitting of the National Efficiency Board, and Ima been considered by the full board. The views so ably expressed by Mr. JJegg have the approval of the board with the one exception, that it 19 to be understood that the suggestion for the di6coutinuiiuee of returned soldiers on unimproved or partially improved farmers ia considered as being of general application, only, us there may be, olid probably are, individual cases where returned men can bo successfully placed upon this class of farm, but an a general principle the hoard are- of opiuioii that owing to the largely increased cost of material of nil Musses, including slock, seed, etc., thiiso men. are being materially handicapped, aud will be placed at a serious disadvantage when the prices fall, as they undoubtedly will, It is pointed out that particularly in the southern districts I here are- a large number of farmers who, having realised on their previous properties, and are proposing to again lafco up , farming, are not taking active steps to invest their moneys at the present time, but iiro waiting for Ulo'inevitable slump in tho high prices of materials and stock which may be expected. Thero are undoubtedly cases wheru returned soldiers are at tho present lime doing yrull upon bush lands, as they are receiving, 111 Iho form of payment for their exertions in cutting fencing material, largo returns, aud thereby nro profiting by tho existing high rates, but such case's are exceptional, arid it by no means folluwa that the advuntngos so gained nro at all commensurate with the high prices which have to be paid for tho farmers' rer|iiireinente. The principles which the board huvo adopted us a basis upon which H considers tiiu settlement of boldiers on the land should follow, are set out in tho six paragraphs following:— "(1) That the opening up of Crown and Native hinds should be accelerated and carried through on a largo scale. "(2) That the cutting up of private estates and runs should be continued, but not specially accelerated. ,

"(3) That men .proposing to tnko up and should bo trained. 011 farms by faiuers.

"(■1) That it is desirable that boards of trustees and committees of advice throughout the Dominion should be utilised in order to obtain openings on farms in which persons desirous of learning farming may be employed,' and that such training should bo for a period of two years. In respect to soldiers, it must not. prejudice their right to secure land. "(5) That any person before receiving from the Government speoial financial assistance should show that he has had two years' practical experience ou the land.

"(C) That in tho selection of land returned soldiers shall have preference lor ten years after the declaration of peace, and. I specially draw your attention to tho 4th, sth, and 6th. paragraphs which deal ivith the matter that you have placed In-fore tho board." A Resolution. , After'discussion' the board decided: "That this board, while recognising the increased price of land and materials, and that diiliculties exist at present in placing returned eoldicra on the land, aro of opinion that in special cases where suitable land is available at payable values the Government should proceed ■without delay with Uio settlement of returned men on tho land. While expressing no opinion as to the acceleration of opening up Crown and Native lands, tbo board aro of opinion that Crowil laud, where, possible, and Native land should be appropriated for returned eoldiers in tho future, and approve of ■Clauses 3, i, 5, and (i iu the letter of tho chairman of the Efficiency Board " It was decided to submit the followin" remits from- the Taranaki Association to the Government with a view to improving the conditions regarding financ ing discharged men on Crown lands—(a) by capitalising the cost of new houses and sheds and other necessary new imprayements, such as fencing, by either adding he value to the purchase value ot the laud, or calculating it with interest Ivy half-yearly instalments, thus leaving tho loan limit available for stocking and other purposes of equipment of the farm; (b) or in the alternative bv !XT" g U ' e tloVol ' muellt loiul limit to