LAND FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 38, 8 November 1918, Page 7

LAND FOR SOLDIERS

. ■ / —■ 9 • THE GOVERNMENT ARRANGE,x .. f ;. MENTS. ,'A suggestion'that returned' soldiers should ht placed oil improved land anil that a portion of the capital liability should bo held in reserve, to be liquidated on the'deferred-payment system, was made in the House of Representatives by Mr. ,T. V Luke (Wellington North). . Tho 1 Prime Minister replied that Seclions 3 and 4 of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, 1015, enabled improved land acquired under the Land for Sett ementsAct. IMB, to be set aside for settlement by discharged, soldiers, and 117,559 acres had already been acquired for selection. These comprised' improved farming and dairying lands in settled districts, ,"vud the greater part have been taken up. Moreover,. the provisions of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Amendment Act, 1017. enabled any discharged soldier, to be assisted' to acquire any suitable private land that ho can obtain- at. a reasonable, price. On all those .lands the Crown advances up to l£soo, and in special cases £"a(l,. for the further improvement of the land, for buildings, and for the purchase of stock and > implements.. These advances- were secured on mortgage.'and-bill of sale. Monevs-advanced for the acquisition of:-.-proppr'ties are repayable by instalments extending'oyer thirty-six years and a half, but? moneys advanced on current account for the improvement of,t.hc property;.of for-the', purchase of implements and stock, are necessarily on flat mortgage. There jjs nothing, to prevent the soldier paying off h is '■ mortgage by payments of ,£lO and upwards if lie is in a .position to dc. so.-.Mdneys advanced for tli'e purchase,of a .dwelling on other (him rural laiitP'ar-s also/secured -by instalment mortgage 'extending !oyer twenty-five years and a half. ': .-^