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Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1918, Page 2

Tick readiness of the Government to assist in placing soldiers on the land, as brought out at the recent of the Westland Patriotic Committee, should he made known as widely as possible. The Minister, the lion. D. H. Guthrie, proposes that for this district the settlement of soldiers on the land should he met by the special provisions of the act provided for the purpose. This permits advances to be made to the limit of £2,500 in regard to discharged soldiers wishing to acquire private or leased lands under special tenures. The Department, it would appear, is not disposed to provide the hind itself, mainly for the reason that there is very little Crown land of sufficiently good quality to put on tho market for soldiers’ settlement. The question of the purchase of estates does not commend itself to the Department, it appears, because it is not dear that there is a local demand by discharged men for land. This might be so just now. but it does seem necessary that when the repatriation of tho New Zealand Army as a: whole takes place, there will be a demand of a pressing nature, ami it would not be out of place for the Department to make itself more intimate with Westland lands than it appears to ho. Purchasing value is an element of great, moment to the Dominion in regard to the whole scheme, and no doubt cheaper land for dairying purposes could he acquired in this district than anywhere else in the country—cheaper of course in the light of returns to he given by an average dairy herd. Tho Government appears to be disposed to deal not niggardly with the whole question, and for this reason 'a more intimate knowledge of the resources and' potentialities of the

district should be acquired by the directing heads. • The suggestion just made regarding lands in Westland for soldier settlements brings to mind that to-morrow night be an opportune moment to place before tlie Acting-Prime Minister a proposal that bis colleague the Minister of Lands (Mr Guthrie), might pay an | official visit of inspection to Wcslftnd to glean something first hand of this district, The Government members individually do not know the district, and the locality is quite a terra incognita to Mr. Guthrie. That gentleman bails from an agricultural centre in the North Island of a flourishing character, but even so- we believe it would be interesting for liim to see the land here, learn its sale value, and note what stock it is turning out ,or tho dairy products it is producing. The return per head of cattle reared or utilised in relation to the value of the land, would compare most satisfactorily, we are persuaded with the hon. genetleman’s knowledge of values and productivity in the flourishing centres of the North Island. Apart from this education to a Minister of the Crown, the needs of the district require the attention/ of the Minister. Lot it not bo a meteorlike tour through easily accessible portions, but a complete round of the district to learn its value and its requirements. Such a visit would bo welcomed, also, as a means of advising soldiers ami others interested as to the repatriation scheme in force, especially in regard to the provision of light employment for those who are not able to return to the laborious work which was tlie meant; of their livelihood in pro-en-listmont times. In justice to tlie district and its absent, members, such a careful tour of the electorate should be made by a responsible Minister.