LAND FOR SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 312, 21 September 1918, Page 10

LAND FOR SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENTS.

STATEMKNT BY'MR. MACDONALD. By Telegraph'—Press Association. Gisborne, September 20. .Speaking to a deputation which urged the establishment of soldiers' settlements in this district, the Hon. W. D. S. MacDouald said ho had taken out 'a list of about 150 farmers, with piojierty extending from Mangatu to the Kast Cape, owning 3000 acres up to 40,000- He was strongly of opinion that these men could- hand over portion of their land pro rata at a reasonable price, and that; it was not too much to expect of them. He hoped that >ocal landowners would take consideration of the fact—ami he was not one given to making threats—that there was a demand for land and that it would be well for owners of large areas of land to hand over certain portions for tins purpose, 'when there were large numbers of men anxious to get on the land. Some provision had to be made, and he knew there were large areas Led by individual men. to whom it; would he no difficulty.'to offer some of it to the .Government;. If they did not the Government could not be blamed it something was done for the people. Inferring to Native land purchase operations, the Minister said all the land purchased had been ear-marked for soldier settlement. He did not think there would be any difficulty in consolidation. The Hon. A. T. Ngatn had been working at the consolidation, He (the speaker) did not think it .would bo necessary to wait until other purchases were completed to get some of this land opened. The original idea' had been that the land should be held until the return of the.men to Mew Zealand. Now that over' 20,000 men had returned ho did not think 'the settlement should be delayed much longer. There were not, however, men for roading and surveying. Apart from this everything was now so expensive. They hart over 260,000 acres in tho XJrewera Country, and some of it was really good land, and when a few; more purchases we're completed he thought they would be'able to get on with.it. It was absolute nonsense for some to suggest that every returned soldier should go on tho- land! It. would bo all very well for people to sav in the event of disaster that, the Government gave too much for the land. The Government was right in taking reasonable precautions.