SOLDIERS AND THE LAND

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 191, 8 May 1920, Page 9

SOLDIERS AND THE LAND

"NOT ENOUGH SEHLEMENT", SAYS R.S.A THE LARGE ESTATES SUBDIVISION DEMANDED • A report regarding the settlement of returned soldiers on the land was pre- ' seated to the executive of the New Zealand -Returned Soldiers' Association by the Lands Committee yesterday morning. "Far From Satisfied," • Liout.-Colonel G. Mitchell, D.5.0., M.P., chairman of the committee, presented the Teport, excerpts from which are given below:— "Your committee has dealt with a great deal of important, matter connected with land settlement. But all points are subservient to the one big issuo, that of getting soldiers settled on the large estates, in a reasonable time, and at a price which will assure them a comfortable living and protect the country from the danger of settlers becoming a financial burden when the prices of produce are more stabilised. In spite of all the efforts of the Minister and tho expenditure of very large sums of money, your committee is far from satisfied at the number of soldiers settled and the general progress made. Up to the present some GflOO men have been settled. . ■; ,] "We estimate that at least one-fifth of the number have bought out single farms, and so provided 1000 small farmers with the means and opportunity of joining the land gamble. The information received from all our centres confirms our estimate that at least 5000 soldier land-seekers are yet unsatisfied, and'are likely to Temain so for a long time,.unless there is a drastic change in the method of acquiring large estates. In the Wairarapa alone we have the names of 260 men now wanting land, and another 100 could be ndded to that number, yet only about 'HO men have been settled in this district up to date. Effect of Inflated Prices. "You? committee is gravely concerned at tin war inflated . prices; asked • for Mieir land by some of the large landowner?, for the purpose of soldier set'tt'emenE; they are loading the State and -soldier with debt, that they may have the inflated ' value which tho (State and the soldier created. "Specific cases have been brought before your committee, where the soldier settler's valuation for rating and taxation purposes is much higher than adjoining land; in some cases unimproved valuation, increased 100 per cent, since 1915 and adjoining land of superior quality. 36 per cent. Wo are making further investigations in this matter, and will plnce our recommendations before your sub-committee. "Your committee cannot hear of one 'case where "the 1919 Act has been put ' into operation to stop aggregation, and considering the Minister of Lands admitted prevalence of aggregation during the war, your' committee' doubts the sincerity, of tho Government, in this matter, '■■'.' "The present demand for private - ! farms bv soldiers is due, we believe, to the fact that not sufficient large estates are thrown open. Wo deprecate the soldier replacing the 6mall farmer. It aggravates the shortage, and encourages speculation, and inflation in value of small farms without in any way increasing land settlement or production. Your committee is convinced tljat the immediate compulsory acquisition and settlement of the largo estates under the 1903 , Act is an urgent necessity, if we are to. successfully settle our soldiers on the land under conditions which will assure them success, and free tho State of grave financial loss should the price cf produco fall. Detailed Recommendations. "Wo, therefore, submit the following proposals as the considered judgment of your committed: '" "'' "•' . ''fO That all large estates in the Dominion be tabulated according to their size and suitability for settlement. "(2) That such estates as are necessary Jor tho settlement, of soldiers be conipulsorily acquired under the pro-' yisions of the Act of 1908. - "(3) That tho estates of .£IOO,OOO and over in value be reduced to $75,000; after-those in this category aro exhausted, those 0f.i!75,000 to be reduced to . and, if required, from £50,000 to £35,000; such a system to be continued, until all soldiers are settled. "(4V To expedite the settlement of these estates after acquisition, we-sug-gest that the peg system of survey, as suggested' by Mr. Jardine, be adopted. . "The above is Mr. A. P. Whntman'e scheme, and has been adopted at the Wellington Farmers' Provincial Conference at Wellington, and - later unaninymslv by the Dominion : Farmers' Conference, held on July 24-29, 1917, forty ' delegates being present, farmers themselves, and-representatives of the farmers community of the whole of New - Zealand. It will minimise competition in the purchase of land, stimulate (instead of reducing) production, and will provide sufficient land .for settlement fit all soldiers. "The committee recommends further -. that:— ■ • ■ . "(5) The principle of communal settlements (fruit farms and similar branches of activity), for T.B. and P.D. soldiers be approved, and the Government be urged to extend the system at once. "(6) That Colonel Mitchell's scheme lor the settlement by fit men of bush and Native lands'bo approved, and the Government be urged to put it into operation at once on tho TJrewera lands or other suitable country. Higher Advances Wanted. "(7) It'is proposed that the amount of advances for the purchase of stock and implements be increased to £1250. (8) That tho loan to settlers for building a home (now £250) be increased »« under: Single man £250, man nnd for each child £50 extra. (9) Jo protest against the power of discrimination vested in the Land Boards, and to affirm that all soldier be given equal opportunities. to acquire sections of land, providing they have ' «/,«"I'n 4 ? ? lul , ex "enence to work it. (10) ihat the attention of the ■■Government be drawn to the great demand bv returned soldiers for grazing lenses and pastoral runs and urged flint this class of land be tbrown open for suc h, and that whero-the leases of graz-' and pastoral runs expire, no renewals lie granted provided returned soldiers are prepared to fake thorn up, and that all such leases, falling ln be advertised at least -three months before becominc available. . "(11) That -the Government bo urged to transfer the administration of advances to returned soldiers for. i urchasing and building houses from {lie Laud .™'f to the Repatriation Boards. (12) Ihat no section be loaded with cost of reading,, draining, etc., and interest be charged to settler until the money lias actually been spent. (U) Areas of any section covered with , Tern, scrub, manuka, shall bo free from ' ail part of rent, based on its carrying ccpacity, until such areas are made pro- • ctuctiye, but such remission shall not ex- ] cecd three years. .."(14) That ; in all cases where a soldier '■ is placed on-Jand after its productive ( period, of the. year, tho half year's rent 1 be remitted. i "(15) That the Government be urgc-a to ( make provision for a representative nominated by tho executive of the N.Z.R.S A to sit upon the land Boards throughout the Dominion. "(1?) That the valuation fee under the D.S.S. Act be reduced. "(17) That the Minister of Lands to HTged to give more prompt effect to the ? six weeks' option obtained to purchase of lands and houses in view of- the numer- ! ous complaints receive*! of options run- ? ning out beforo the purchase is complet- • ed. i • Enforcement of 1908 Act Desired. s Colonel Mitchell, in explaining tho com- a miltee's proposals, said there was- a feel- t ing of real bitterness among many re- i turned soldiers at tho manner in which v they wore being treated by the Govern- i ment on this question. \ Mr. .L I-'. Andrews (Auckland) remark- t ed that no doubt they would got more c sympathy if they waited on tho Govern- e

ment again, but they were tired of that; they wanted results. Ho thought the best course: they could adopt would be lo get a private member to movo a Bill containing their proposals in the House. Tho Bill doubtless would be defeated, but then they would know exactly whero a every member stood. Mr. W. Pollock (Auckland) moved: "That the committee's: report bo adopted, and that tho .chairman of the Lands Committee, Colonel Mitchell, be asked to introduce a, Bill in tlie House, covering tho whole'of this report."' Mr. W. E. Leadley (Christchurch) seconded. Colonel Mitchell urged that tho Gov--5f eminent should be forced to put the . 1908 Act into operation for the acquisij. tion of big estates. If they could only iy got the Government to do that ther'o jj. would be no need for local Land Purchase Boards at all. Tho report was adopted, and, on the suggestion of Colonel Mitchell, Mr. I'olg. lock'altered the rest of his motion to j, read: "That Colonel Mitchell be asked to move a motion in the House asking n that tho Government at onco' acquire f. all large estates' for soldier settlement t9 under the 1908 Act." This was carried 0 unanimously. 1( J The executive sub-committee was also' ,1 instructed to arrange for a deputation to a the Prime Minister, Minister of I/ands, j. and members of Cabinet, requesting that {. the 1908 Act 'be put iutofforce:,',,,, :,',,, i' g The Lands Committee was specially a thanked for its labours, « discussion "atTiasterton . a 1 AT R.S.A. MEETING 6 COMPULSORY ACQUISITION URGED h e -'By Telegraph.-Special Correspondent. '" Masterton, May 7. lf The vexed question of land settlement l " for soldiers was dealt with at the an- '" nual meeting of the Wairarapa Returned 1 Soldiers' Association to-night, when ad- [ ' n dresses were giver, by Messrs. Hugh Mor- " t rison and L. A, Hoidbrook (members of 6 ' the local Land Purchase Board) and '" Messrs. D. M'Gregor and J. Court. • e Mr. Morrison said that he was present " in a dual capacity—as chairman of tho ? Patriotic Association and as a- member z of the Land Purchase Board. The Pat- '' rictus Association had always worked in conji:nction_with the U.S.A. because it was agreed that the best results were ou- ■ tained in this way. Prior to the in- * auguration of the repatriation scheme, r tlw association had devoted itself to as- " sisting soldiers to set up in business, etc. ' Now the association used its funds to assist 2 men in overcoming such hi: vita as tho r meeting of the first half-year's rent. Tho 15 association 1 also .supplemented Government loans for stocking farms, etc. The " total,number of men placed on the land r . through the association was 140, but in ". addition quite a number had been nsaist- : ed privately. The sneaker thought that 1 in this district more" men had been as--3 sisled on the land privately by the'assol cintion than by the Government. > Altogether, the association had advanced ' in loans £36.146 12s. 103., of which • £8159 fa. Id, had been paid back'. The association was really a lending bank at j the present time, nnd he was sure that j it was serving a useful purpose. ' ■ The Land Purchase Board. | Eeferrlng to khe operations of the local ! Land Purchase Board, Mr. Morrison said that there had been complaints regarding delay in the valuation of properties: t This delay", was not due to Mr. M'Ohire . (District Commissioner of Crown Lands), ' who was very sympathetic regarding . the needs of returned men. The speaker ' could personally testify that Mr. M'Cluro I worked long hours, but he could not do the impossible. At present tho Govern. ■ ment valuers were working at top speed. Since Mr. Hoidbrook and he had join- ■ ed the Land Board they had been suc- ; cessful in placing about 40 men on the >■ land,'but it was "mighty hard work," . and there was still a long waiting list. They were now faced with the position of the Government having at present. no funds for further land settlement. If- had to be Temembered that a soldier was unlike an ordinary moneyed individual going on the land; he was working right through on a mortgage, here was a prospect of crossbred wool,'etc., coming down in value, nnd they must bo careful. At' the same time, saw Mr. Morrison, he was not pessimistic. In. the future ■ New Zealand would eventually emerge a very desirable farming country, but at present they had to expect a certain drop, especially in dairy produce. About Aggregation, Dealing with tho. report of the N.Z. U.S.A.'.'Land Committee, Mr. Morrison said that personally he was not absolutely against aggregation in certain cases. Some land was too poor to be farmed in small lots, and no harm could bo done by letting a man take up large areas of, say, poor scrub country. No doubt re-aggre-gation was assuming a serious aspect. He had a fair amount of land himself, but was favourable to the graduated acquisition of land as advocated in the report. The thing should be done equitably, now< ever, and no landowner should escape. Tho housing of soldiers taking up land was a most 6erious problem • Somepeoplo. thought that soldiers should start as the pioneers had done—by living in mud huts or something like that—but tho soldier had roughed it quite enough while in the trenches. A married man with a family had to have proper accommodation. The only -remedy seemed to be in the standardisation of houses. Compulsory Acquisition. Mr. Hoidbrook thanked the association for electing him to the Land Purchase Boai'd. He agreed with Mr. Morrison that the greatest difficulty lay in tho reluctance of large landowners to submit suitable land at suitable prices. Ho advocated the compulsory acquisition of land qs outlined in the executive's report. A commission should be set up to determine fair values for land sub- . mitted. The board could easily get suitable land by looking for it, but waiting for it to be offered voluntarily was a slow business. A Soldier's Land Bill. Mr. D. M'Gregor said that it was quite time that the Government filled tho vacancy on. tho Land Board, thus reliov- ] ing the present members (Messrs. Morri- , son and Hoidbrook) of some of their onerous duties. It was mentioned in the executive's report that if a Bill were ■ brought down in the House by Colonel ; Mitchell, M:P„ it would probably be de- ■ feated. Why should it be defeated? As , soldiers they should uso their influence i and should obtain promises of support. ■ A serious aspect of the land problem ; was the policy of tho Government in buy- ( ing out farms for cash. The vendor wns i thus enabled to buy another farm, thereby again-inflating values. The trouble , was that the Crown Lands officials were : . hampered by politicians. Ho had no ; doubt that this Dominion compared fav- ' 'ourably with other countries so far as : politicians were concerned; but shelving . seemed to .'be a universal failing in poli- ' ties.. The claims of the returned, soldiers , would 'be shelved unless influence was j brought, to bear. How could they ex- ] pect large landowners to offer thoir land ( under present conditions? In conclusion, -i Mr. M'Gregor advised returned soldiers ■ generally not. to be in a- hurry in taking -, up pastoral land, .. j Mr. ,T. Court endorsed tho remarks of i the previous speaker, j The following resolutions were passed ( by the meeting:—"That tho thanks of the association be offered through the -j Press to all vendors who had submitted t land voluntarily for soldier settlement, that it bo a recommndation ' to . the N.Z.Pi.S.A. to mako representations to the .Government that all land held by absen- - the owners be acquired fcompulsorily i under the provisions of tho Land Act c of 1903." ... .. 7