SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 264, 4 August 1919, Page 8

SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENT

THE PROVISION' OF FUND

FURTHER STATEMENT BY HON. D. H. GUTHRIE

A further statement regarding the settlement ot : returned soldiers on the land was made by the Minister of Lands (Hon. D. H. Guthrie) in reply to suggestions put forward by the executive, of tho Kcturned So.dier* Association on Saturday. The difficulties that had faced the Government, said iik. Guthrie, liad been very great, and they had not all been overcome. But critics should re■mem'ber that tho necessity of obtaining land for the soldiers had created a position such as had never existed before. 'l'ho Government had bought a great many estates, proceeded the Minister, and the people who had received tho money had entered tho land- market, and so increased prices. It had been no easy task to obtain the land required for tho soldiers, and tho financial obligation had increased very rapidly. He had sent a circular letter to large land-owners throughout New Zealand asking them to sell land suitable for returned soldiers, and ho was glad to be'ablo to eay that the- replies now being received placed a great deal of land under offer to the Government. A delegate: Are you getting good land? Mr. Guthrie- "We are buying land up to ,£IOO an acre, and I may eay that tho dearest land we havo bought up to tho present lias made tho most successful settlements. We are buying all classes of land, for wo have all c'.nsses of settlers among tho soldiers.'' Tho issue of war bonds to vendors in payment -was not a new idea. That was being dono in many cases. But most of tho laud carried mortgages, which had to bo lifted when the Government bought. \ A delegate: "We want to make it compulsory for the vendor to accept war bonds." Mr. Guthrie: "That is under consideration at the present time. It is in the schemo that I will submit to Mr. Massey when he returns. The scheme, which is based on the experience we have obtained so far, covers purchaso and other matters." There was a recommendation beforo Cabinet to increase from .£250 to ■i'3so tho advance that could be mado for buildings. It should be remembered that the Government was not selling out to mnke rich men of all the soldier settlers. If it did that the scheme would break down of its own weight. The Government aimed simply at giving every man a fair start. The practice of taking bills of sale oyer stock in cases where advances had been made -was being considered. A delegate: "You know that no auctioneering firm will moke an advance to one of the soldiers, or sell stock to him on account of tho Government's bill of sale." Mr. "They have said thoy would not do it. For one reason, they wanted to force the Government's hands in connection with the advances tho Government was making. Remember we are administering public funds, and we are trustees for those funds. Wo are dabbling now in tho fifth million in connection with this nuestion.' It is an enormous responsibility.