SETTLING SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 22, 21 October 1919, Page 5

SETTLING SOLDIERS

POLICY OF R.S.A,

OUTLINE OF PROPOSALS

Reference to tho land question as it altects returaNl soldiera was made at last night's sitting of the conference of the N.Z.Ii.S.A. A committea had been set up by the conference to report on the matter, and an outlino of the committee's views wns given to the confercucc by LM'r. J. A. Cowlcs (\Y<unirap&), convener oi' tho committee. Mr. Cowles stated tlmt hundreds of men were drifting about the country ottendinß bnllote and wasting their capital. Suitable land was not now ovuilablo in sufiicient quantities to satisfy tho demands of soldiers. The committee approved of (lie land scheme proposed by Mr. A. P. Whatman, of Mostdrton, under which it was suggested-=that all land in the Dominion should be classified. Suitable estate of .CIOO.OOO and al>ove in value would be taken compui'sorily i,nd reduced to .£70,000 in valuation. When estates of the value of .£70,000 were exhausted, then estates valued at .£50,000, and so on, should be taken until the demand waa satisfied. Land owners would liavo the right to retain land of a reasonable value. All big estates should be at once va.'ued, and tabulated, with a view _to giving owners fair notice of resumption by the Government. Land being acquired should be taken at a valuo determined on a hosis of productivity. A valuation board, consisting of a representative of the Government,, two representatives of the U.S.A., and three of the farming community, should bo snt up. in rac'h land district to value the estates. Tho reason of this provision was to make it dear that the returned soldiers weire not "after tho blood" of tiie land owners, most of whom were desirous of helping the returned men. The Government would require to pass legislation to acquire estates ftfc the nriee determined on by the Valuation Board without recourse to arbitration. The scheme an outl'ried had the following desirable features: (1) It would minimise competition in the purchase of land; (2i it. would stimulate (instead of reducing) production; (?) it would prov.de sufficient land for the settlement of ad soldiers. Tho committeo was favourable to the extension of the principle of communal settlements for tulvwular end pennaiv e"(.ly disabled fiokliiww. The principle of appointing supervisors of polders settlements was also anproved nv the committee, which considered 'hat when advisable. local advisorv lyMvds Rhon'n be isbi.blWuMl to a*wnt and direct sowers. It was felt that if the sch»me as outliufd were taken un by an enthusiastic M'lV ister it would mean that the land nroMem would bo settled on a satisfactory basis. . Mr. Cowlrs was thanked for 1 his explanation of the report, which.will be diseii'Ssed by the conference at a later staM.