SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 300, 7 September 1918, Page 7

SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENT

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS-' . DONE. Some refutation of the often-repeated statements that the Government is doing nothing of consequence to put returned soldiers on the land is contained in the following figures supplied by tho Hon. D. H. Guthrie:— ■ _ The Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act of 1915 authorised tho raising of the sum of £500,000 for to soldier. settlers taking. up land underthis Act. ' Since.'the scheme has been in operation: £17,182 of the advances made" have been repaid; Tho ' total amount authorised •as advances is £422,113; distributed among 798 settlers. So that there is a'balance still available of £95,069. . ■

The areas of the land set apart for selection by soldiers are striking. . The Government has set apart 323.843 acres of Crown land for settlement'by returned soldiers. It has purchased also 116,242 acres.of private land, and it has practically completed, the purchase of 4.532 acres of other private land offered for purchase. This makes the total area under these heads 44-1,017 acres. Since the; war commenced the Government has. purchased 554,531 acres of Native, laiid through tho Native Land Purchase Board, and at the present time'7oo,ooo acres of Native land is under negotiation.' Probably before the end of the, financial year the purchase of 100,000-acres, of this land will have been completed. Included in these areas mentioned is a block of 10,533 acres in the North Auckland district, Mongonui County, which is to be broken iii for settlement by soldiers. The land has been subdivided, the roads have been laid off, and the suni of £6000 has been set apart'for the formation of the'roads. This 'land is earmarked for preliminary breakinK-in by returned soldiers, under practical managers, prior to the settlement of these soldiers on the lands.