THE LAND QUESTION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 211, 1 June 1920, Page 5

THE LAND QUESTION

PROBLEM AS AFFECTING SOLDIERS. "The land problem is beset with many difficult points," said Dr. E. Boxer, president of tho N.Z.R.S.A., when delivering his presidential address to tho annual conference of the association yesterday. "Land difficulties will remain our greatest hurdle. I don't think that tho matter of increased pension is a hurdle: it is a reasonable proposition to put up. Throughout the whole country, the greatest difficulties- thinkers and economists are faced with is tho problem of correct settlement of men on the land, whether it be urban or rural areas."

Dr. Boxer said that the conference should consider tho temporary suspension of the provisions of tho D.S.S. Act. When there was no .money in the Exchequer for a certain purpose, it was only right that the demands under particular appropriations should bo restricted. He had great sympathy with the man who found himself getting down to the end of his cash balanco. and had to call "taihoa." That wa? what he took it tho Government had had to One might be in sympathy with them, but he felt that corfain things should be done which had not been done, and it would be for the conference to express an opinion.

Mr. P. H. Watte (Waikato) stated that he had never been in favour of tko Government's land policy, because lie contended that it had created an unfortunate position in regard to the iiirrency. " Land had been bought at values which were too high. In a way he had no objection to tho Government restricting the- present activities in connection with land. Only, a very small portion of the returned men had been ■settled on the land, and it was necessary to find a better schqmo to work on. The Government should bo impressed .with the necessity of acting on thoso tines.

"I believe that as an association we ought to make it clear that we are of opinion that' the Government is decidedly to blame in this hiattct of tho D.S.S. Act," remarked Mr. W. E. Leadley (dirisltohnrch). "Jin my opinion tho .matter hits been handled very unsatisfactorily by the Minister of Lands. At the very least bo should have given our association some notice of his intention to withdraw thoso provisions As it is, all over the country men have entered into contracts to purchase land and build houses, and now thny find, to use a Soulier's phrase, that they are 'in tho soup,' At tho last conference we were informed by Mr. Masscy that, the Government would give twelve months' notice of their intention to withdraw any benefits under tho TI.S.S. Act, and now they have been withdrawn c.t a moment's notice, an<l tho only satisfaction we can get is that the money has run nut."