LAND FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 207, 27 May 1919, Page 6

LAND FOR SOLDIERS

MtAItLBOKMM DISTRICT

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER

Tho settlement of returned soldiers in the district of Marlborough has been exercising the people ol the district for some tiu:e. Many of (he soldiers who went forward to light from this province were men who had been 011 tlio land as civilians, and now .Unit they liavo returned these men desiroHo settle on the land. It is said that they aro not being afforded facilities for doing this in their own district, and that 111 consequence some of them have gone to other districts where laud was available. A deputation from Marlborough representing bodies interested in lepatl'iation of soldiers—the Patriotic Association, the Repatriation. Committee, tho Farmers' Union, the Returned Soldiers' Association. tho Fruit-growers' Association, tho Chamber of Commerce, and the Blenheim Borough Council—wailed on the Minister of Lands regarding this matter yesterday.

Mr. J. J. Corry, Mayor of Blenheim, was the chief spokesman for the deputation. He said that the opinion of these bodies was'that the" Government would be better advised to make more attempts to satisfy the soldier with a, desire for agricultural farming, instead only sheep country. Marlborough had sent away 1800 soldiers, most of whom had been engaged in farming. Ho indicated a number of properties, 4000 acres in all, which 110 thought the Government ought to buy, and 110 assured tho Minister that the prices -at which these properties-were offered wero such that the Governnjaat could safely make the purchases and uso tlio land for returned men. Tho land could bo used for immediate settlement,' and • turned to early profit. The suggestions were that the laud in question could be used for such profitable branches of farming as seed-raising, lucerne cultivation, and dairying, as well as for fruit-growing. The request was that the Government should at onpe take steps to have the land valued, and if the prices seemed to bo fair, to purchase tne laid for settlement by returned soldiers.

The Hon. D. 11. Guthrie, replying, said that he was extremely glad to meet a number of such men as the members of the deputation interesting themselves in then roblcm of repatriation. The task was so largo that it could Jiot ba left to one man or lo twenty, men; everybody must 'do his bit if the ;ob was to be properly done. As Minister of Lands he had been closely in touch with the work, and deeply interested in it, and on every possible occasion he had asked people lo keep him in touch with the requirements of tliyr district. Ho thought this was the "first time that the Government bad been approached on behalf of the returned soldiers of Marlborough, "lie deputation had eome.wit.h definite proposals, with definite reoominendations for blocks of land. It was said that ihere' were soldiers waiting to take up this land. This was just the sort of information the Government wanted. He would certainly liave a report made, and with this object he would ask the deputation to leave with him a list of the oroperties ill reupect of which they had nwilo recommendations. He repeated that the Government had had no applications from soldiers in Marlborough which the Department had not been able to satisfy. A member of the deputation: Oui' men aro Koing elsewhere. Wc aro losing them.

Mr: Gnlhrie said that if this was occurring it wa.s_ against the policy of tlio Government, which was that wherever possible soldiers would he induced lo settle in the district from which they had come. Difficulty had been experienced in respect of men Troni the Attracted. "o doubt, by the better climate in the North Island", they were applying for land in this island. However, the policy of the Government was to find land for men in their own district, because there they would be among their own friends, tliey would know the conditions, of farming, they would know the cwmatic conditions,'and they would be likely toumko a success of the business. He appreciated very much the action of the deputation in coining to him with their proposals, and he would, as he had yii<f. have reports made as to the. suitability of the properties offered. It might l:i----that there would be differences' of opinion between'* him and the (icputotion afterwards, if it should happen that the valuers' reports were adverse. But he ton Id not go to all phices to inspect land himself, and he would not in any case attempt on his own judgment to valuland in districts'which he did not know. The valuers had a heavy responsibility when considering whether to recommend t'ie Government to purchase, a property. He referred to his proposals'for the appointment fff outside local representatives to assist the Land Purchase Board in making valuations 'of properties- offered, and of supervisors for soldiers' settlements. He honed that lie would, be able to meet lie wishes of tho denotation, and that he would be abb to supply the needs of the returned soldie-s of the district who were asking for land. <

Mr. Corry said that the members of tlir bodies represented ioolc the responsibility of assuring the Minister that _t,he pieces of land recommended, at the prices nt which they were offered, were good commercial investments. If the Departmental officer making the valuations hid not agree with them in this, they would like the Minister to consult with them again before rejecting the offers made. ..