EXPLOITING THE SOLDIER

Hokitika Guardian, 31 August 1918, Page 3

EXPLOITING THE SOLDIER

CASE IN SOUTHLAND

Referring to tlie question of purchase of improved farm land for discharged soldiers, the Commission of Crown Lands at Friday’s meeting of the Land Board, made some scathing remarks in regard to the greed of some would-be sellers in thir attempts to exploit the men who have been away fighting to protect the country, and without whose efforts property would be of very little value (says the “Southland News”). Inutile case for ono, transfer which came up for the sanction of the Board, the consideration money was shown as £3440, while at the same time _ the vendor had the property under offer to the Land Purchase Board at £5940; thus endeavouring to obtain £2500 ] more from the soldier than he was pre- j pared to accept from an ordinary pur-

chaser. In another case in which a transfer of a Crown lease had been approved by the Board a few weeks ago at a con-, sideration of £3905, the transferee sub mined the property to tlie Government-. at £8270, or £4305 more than he gave. In the case of a soldier who applied for assistance under Section 2 of the Act to purchase a farm, the vendor asked £l2 per acre. The Board acting on the report of their valuer, doclined the application on the ground that the price asked was excessive, whereupon, the vendor immediatly offered to reduce the price to £4 per acre, - thus practically admitting tha t ho had been trying to exploit- the returned man to the extent of nearly

£IOOO. In numerous instances prices asked for properties submitted to the Land Purchase Roard rang from 80 to 150 per cent, above Government valuations. Would-be vendors of this class may find ! that they are making a rod for their ' own hacks if they have to face the Valuation Department with a demand for • taxation on their own values.