MANAWATU

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 12, 28 July 1919, Page 8

MANAWATU

Fussing reference was made at the last ira-tini? of the Manawatu Patriotic Socieiy to the Buick soldiers' settlement. Jlr. H. G. Grinsted asked tlio chairman (Mi. J. A. Nash, M.P.) whether it was possible /'for the soldiers to ever make these sections their own. _ In answering In tho affirmative, Mr. Nash said that the money advanced by tho Government would be re.paid by the settlers by way of sinking vi'uiid, the repayments being spread over a number of years. Provision was being made in tho block for fourteen five-acre sections for town-work-era. and ho understood that tho .Government would extend to tho soldiers taking up these the same measure of financial assistance as they would enjoy if tliey purchased a residential property in town. The settlers in question would also bo lit'-'liberty to dispose of their properties if they so desired, without restriction. Mr. Adam Aitehison, of Glen Oroua, has been appointed manager of the Otarift cheese factory, and leaves this week to take up his duties there. Tho Manawatu Patriotic Society has at present the substantial credit balance of At. the last meeting of tho society payments on account of relief totalling' /;357 were authorised. . Miss 11. E. Pierccy has been appointed to tLe teaching staff of the Campbell Street School, and Miss B. Kobson to the Pulls School. The Feilding and Taonui school residences have been condemned by the Edu-cation-Board's architect, and application is to be made to have them pulled down. *Miss Forrest, who has been stationedat the Otaki railway post office for some time, lias been appointed a relieving postmistress in the Auckland district. A train of £256 has been voted by the 1 Ecucation Board for improvements at the headmaster's residence at Oliau. Mr. George Watson, of Levin, who was l'pcoiitly severely assaulted and robbed ■on the' highway at Himitangi, is making progress towards recovery. Recent sales of farm properties in the Lovin district include that of Mr. C. ICilleon to Mr. E. Herrick. Mr. Herrick's property has been taken over l)v Mr. Letham, of Canterbury. Mr. Essex has purchased Mr. ,T. Johnson's farm. Mr. E Hurley lias sold out and removed to To Ivuiti. 'while Mr. Morgau and Mrj. Povnton, of Ohau, have also sold out. Semoi-Sergeant D. Fraser, of Thames, who replaces Sergeant Henry at Palmerston North, has taken up his duties at the local police station. Tho return of Schlcswig to Denmark is a matter of great importance to Danish people in all parts of the world, and a proposal is afoot in Pahnerston to celcbrute the ovent in a fitting manner. Speaking at the Danish peace festival, Pastor Christensen stressed the importance of the return to Denmark of one of her most important States which had been cruelly torn from her by the Ger,nian nation. Many Danes in this part of the world, and British subjects of Danish parentage, thought that on an occasion like this it would be most fitting that they should commemorate the event in somo suitable manner, and in order to do this a committee of Danish residents had been'formed to make arrangements. As a result of its deliberations the committee had decided that as soon as the territory in Schleswig had been officially handed to Denmark _ it would dispatch a cablegram to the King of Denmark congratulating him and tho Danish people upon the event. Later it was proposed that an illuminated address in New Zealand iloral design bo procured, and the names of as many Danish people as possible bo ailixed thereto. It was also proposed to present His Majesty with a suitablo souvenir of New Zealand origin. It had been further decided that a reunion of as many Danes as possible fro,-a all over tho Dominion be he.ld at Pahnei-ston North.

At a reception to returned soldiers nt Kelvin Grove, Mr. AV. W. AVilslier, who lnesidrf, took tlio Government to task

for its policy in tho settlement of returned soldiers. lie maintained they were paying too nuicli for land, and attempting to settle men in too small holding. 110 contended that in these small, hudi-pi'iced sections it was impossible for n man to malto a living, more especially if ho wished to get married and do his duty t-> the. country by rearing a family. Tliijs was a one-s'etllement policy, and the onlv chanco a man had was to hang on and wait to sell out when the land increased in value. Mr. J, A. Nash, M.P., took exception to Mr. Wilsher's remarks. The went activities in land lately, moro especially in this district, had put up "•ices, and many would havo great diflicultv in getting suitable holdings. It would he absolutely wrong to expect men \v!w had been through the exciting and sireruous life our soldiers had led for tlio past three or four years to go into the kickblocks where thev would bo deprived of the compaiiioship they had been accustomed to. and events had alreadv proved that this was not in their best interests. If the Government would onlv continue the policy adopted lately of putting men on only tlio best ot laivl then there were good prospects of elicits attending the venture. He was swished that it was much better to pay higher prices for good land in the t icinity of" towns than to send men on cheaper lauds in the country. Mr. B. J. Jacobs, president of the Returned Soldiers Association said that he was m favour of compulsory acquisition by the Government of land required for settlement of returned soldiers.