SOLDIERS’ LAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1919, Page 3

SOLDIERS’ LAND.

INTERESTING PROPOSALS,

fPKK PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.]' WELLINGTON;, Aug. 15. The following is a summary of the proposals submitted by the Returned Soldiers’ Association to the Minister of Lands for the settling of a suitable block of say, 40,000 acres of native land by returned soldiers: — The tenure ought to be optional, with the right of purchase. The Government to survey the area into 40 sections with a reserve of approximately 50 acres suitably situated for a centre for store, dairy factory, school, all etc., . The Returned Soldiers’ Association to select and recommend to the Land Board 40 returned soldiers, ten of them with experience in bushfelling, dairying and sheep. It need not be necessary for any of them to have capital. The Government to provide the necessary capital for felling, burning, grassing and fencing 100 acres on each holding; also the amount necessary for buildings and implements if requir-

ed. The price of the land and the cost ot tliese items, together with the cost of reading, if any, usually loaded on such settlement to be proportionately load- , ed on each section, but to be free of interest for five years, and to be thereafter charged for at the usual rate of interest and sinking fund. Roading and all other work to be done jointly with the settlers at the ordinary contract rates prevailing in the district. If the block contains paying nulling timber, arrangements to be made jointly with the settlers for its nulling and disposal. One of the ten experienced men to be selected on account of his experience and general knowledge to be supperintendent of the settlement while the work of roading, fencing, falling, burning and grassing, and instructing aro carried out. . The settlers to decide what joint Pleasures they can take in tho intcresi of the settlement in tho way of trans. port, supplies, buying seed, etc. DEPENDENTS’ ALLOTMENTS. WELLINGTON, August 14. The Returned Soldiers’^ Association in the course of a statement to Sii James Allen, presses for the immcdi ate settlement of tho retrospective ap plication to children of the ameiulec scale allowances, which came into fore 'or January Ist., 1918, and also th< retrospective application of tho amend e-.l scale of allowances for widowei mothers and dependents at present u force, being tho payment of one shdlin: per day that was unpaid during tli first two years of the war for a prr bationary period of a month after ei tering camp. ■ . The statement concludes: “Wo clan that these »re honourable and jus debts incurred by a rich and prospe Qim country towards the dependents - > those who by their valour and an fibrin; have saved her the humiliation and ru nation of defeat, and should be at on honoured.”