LAND FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 201, 20 May 1919, Page 5

LAND FOR SOLDIERS

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER

" . J IMPORTANT STATEMENT OY POLICY

(By Telegraph—Special Cofl'eepondent.)

Palmerston North, May 19. An important policy speech, with regard to the settlement of returned soldiers on tho land, was at Palmerston North to-<lay by the Minister ot Lands, tho Hon. D. 11. Guthrie, in answer to representations, on the question by ,a deputation fjom the Patriotic Association and the Returned Soldiers' Association.

' Mr. j. A. Nash, M.P., pointed out that there was absolute lancf-hunger in the. North Island, and it was felt on. all sides that the Government was not doing enough to cope with the requirements of returned soldiers. The deputation could not understand why suitable land in the district had been turned down and men who wished to take up small areas near town had been unable to get them. An advisory committee of practical men should be set up in tho various districts to act in conjunction with tho land boards, which at present wcro placed in an invidious position. _ ' Mr. J. M. Johnson emphasised that the Land Purchase Board was turning down good land and buying properties which practical men would not tonch. The speaker quoted several instances. Mr. Weeks spoke on behalf of the Returned Soldiers' Association, pointing out the various stumbling blocks in the way of 'soldiers who wished to take advantage of the Government settlement scheme.

The Minister, in reply, said the Government was face'to face with many difficult propositions, and it knew that it would have to expect some failures in putting unsuitable men on the land. The Government had established instructional farms, hut men were not keen, on going to them. They wanted to go straight on to. tho land, and this accounted for many failures. He held that the Kopane Settlement was tho best exposition of the success of putting men on highpriced land that could be found. The Government was anxious to put men on suitable land. It had had plenty of experience in land settlement, but it was now faced with quite a different phase of tho question. It had been his endeavour to do what the deputation a6ked by strengthening the land boards, and ho had arranged to put a capable outside man on each. He was also arranging to do what- they had asked in the matter of providing an advisorv committee in each district. .The Land Purchase Board hail turned down tho ICopane Settlement, and he admitted that they had been wrong in their judgment. A block of -tOO acres in this district, which had been turned down, was lo be revalued, and he hoped it would be bought. With regard to the remission of. stamp duty Mr.' Guthrie said he personally was in favour of this, but on consulting the Department interested, he found that it was opposed to .it, on : the scoro thnt it would seriously diminish- the Department s income, and lio could go no further. He held that the insistence of the duty being retained only resulted in tnkins money out of one Departments pocket and putting it into that of another Department. Referring to the matter ot the purchase of stock, the Minister snid that he was endeavouring nt the present moment to secure men with suitable experience to advise as to the purchase of stock in eadh centre, and also to act as advisers to the settlers. Hb quite agreed that a three months' option was too long to ask a man to put Ins property under offer, and the time was being reduced to suit individual cases. He proposed to give facilities for the Repatriation Board to examine applicants for land, and this would save both timo and expense. He wished to feel that lie had the people behind him, and they were finite right in urging matters as they had done. (