Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, MAY 25th. 1920. SOLDIER SETTLEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, MAY 25th. 1920. SOLDIER SETTLEMENTS.

\\ estland continues to he neglected by the Government in the matter of the purchase of land for soldier settlement. The authorities state that there is not any available Crown lands in sufficient i a lea for the purpose. Where ex-soldiers buy up isolated farm lands, the Government assist readily enough, but it would he much better business all round, if the Government acquired the properties in advance and in sufficient area to create a settlement. This arrangement would result in cheaper land for the men, and working on adjoining pioperties they would co-operate, and be of greater help and assistance one to the other. The visit of the Hon. J. G. Contes should go some distance in breaking down the departmental prejudice to the purchase of West Coast lands for soldier settlements. Mr Coates saw the farm lands of Arahura, Kokatahi, Koitorangi and llari Hari, with tracts of country in between. He saw also

large areas of swamp land's which by systematic drainage could be brought

into use. 4\e are hoping if another appeal were made to the Government,

and Mr C’oates referred to for an opin-

ion as to action, something tangible might result. When Mr Guthrie was here there was the premise of something

being done by a local Land Purchase Board advising the Government, but nothing has been disclosed so far tp show that the desirable action is being taken. It is a reflection on the Government

land policy of course to find it necessary now to buy hack the freehold which the country in its indecent haste gave way to those who had the money to acquire it. The glaring inequalities of the case are now self-apparent, yet it is remarkable that even to-day there are more freeholders than leaseholders in Parliament. The people have never attempted to undersatnd the ethics of the land policy of file past, and so they must pay the price fpr their neglect and ignorance accordingly. Land fpr tjje settlement of the soldiers is essentially necessary, and tile Government nnisjfc set about acquiring it. For the time being the only instrument tp their hand is to purchase it. Later perhaps a progressive government may do something in the way of limit-

hig the area of freehold to be held by an individual, or above a stipulated area impose so stiff a land tax that the surplus land will he put into the market for legitimate use by others. Tin* time is at hand nonin for the review of the land policy of the country and in the light of events now, a more intelligent interest will he taken in tiro subject. The is still a strong demand for land not only by soldiers but by others, and the immigrants who are to come here will lie in a measure, also, seeking land. This demand will impose the necessity for revising the land policy in regard to tenure and also in reference to taxation. That will be lor the immediate future. For the immediate present, there is no reason why the claims of Westland for soldier settlements should not he pushed, and every effort made to induce the Government to do here what is being done elsewhere in the Dominion and so place the local soldiers on a footing with their comrades elsewhere.