LAND FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 107, 30 January 1920, Page 10

LAND FOR SOLDIERS

A MARLBOROUGH COMPLAINT

WAYS OF PURCHASE BOARD CRITICISED Bj Telefrupb—Prces iMo«iatlon. Blenheim, January 20. A mectinc of the combined land committees of the Marl]>orough Patriotic Association and the Repatriation Committee to-dav severely criticised the methods nf I hi; Land Purchase Board, and exDressed keen dis'appointiucnt ut tlio lack of consideration shown by the Government to Marlborough's claims in tho matter of soldier settlement on the- land. ■Reference was made to Iho fact that Inst vear outions wero secured over a large nrea of agricultural and pastoral pioDfiitv. and submitted to the Land Purchase Board. Only three properties had been acauired, and these would he balloted in April. Of the properties not acauired. several had been sold at nrices much in advance of tho original ontions. It was pointed out Mint many jrarllmiflutrh men were settling in other Darts, where, land was available by ballot. It was to be deeply rogrottod that these men had been unable to settle in a district where thev had gained fanning exnerienco. and where such large areas were calling for subdivision.

A resolution was passed for communication to the Minister, urging greater recoenition of Marlborough's claims, as tho returned soldiers' demand for Crown land was very keen. . In order to sccuro more effective working of the recentlyconstituted District Lnnd'Purchase Board it was decided to approach the Minister with a. view to obtaining representation on both the Repatriation Committee and the Patriotic Association.