SETTLING THE LAND

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 246, 5 July 1918, Page 5

SETTLING THE LAND

(j RETURNED SOLDIERS' VIEWS. "Tho suggestions mado by llio National Efficiency Board in regard to soldier settlement havo practically been endorsed by tho Now Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association," shys Mr. E. F. Andrews, eccretary of th'i Auckland association. "Tho land policy adopted by the recent conference recognises the principle of virgin land being broken in and fenced in blocks by returned men, who should havo a guarantee that they will obtain sections if tliey prove suitable." There was no doubt, Mr. Andrews continued, thafat present there was a strong preference among returned men for iirstclass land, aud it was a fact that many of them, had been' successful, but it had to bo remembered that this land was .valued on the basis of war prices, and in this thero lay a dangor of the future. "Of course," ho added, "every returned man is not fit to go on to busii land aud <lo tho arduous labour necessary, but there aro many, I believe, who would bo willing to go on to a trial block of '40,000 or 50.000 acres of less difficult country, receiving wages for their labour, and at the same time learning sufficient from their supervisors to qualify for becoming settlers. A comprehensive scheme is necessary as a.trial. The present system is working out fairly satisfactorily, but in view of the great initial cost the Returned, Soldiers' Association is convinced that the sell lenient of .virgin land should be carried out at the same time."