LAND SETTLEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1920, Page 1

LAND SETTLEMENT

. POSITION OF SOLDIERS. , STATEMENT BY MINISTER. (Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October G. Mr Masters (IStrattyrd), asked a question in the House of Representatives to-day regarding the policy of the Government in the settlement of returned soldiers on the land. He had heard, he stated that certain new instructions relating to the purchase of a single farm and of houses had been sent to tho Commissioners of Crown Lands.

The Minister for Lands (Mr Guthrie) replied that lie had already written to the Returned Soldiers Association or. thifc matter. The position was that no further applications would bo accepted by the Lands Department for the purchase of houses under tlie ; Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act except in exceptional cases. The future policy of the Government would be to encourage soldiers to apply for advances to erect houses. This would ielp to relieve the existing shortage of houses and would make the available fund' go much further. With regard to the rural land, the Department except in cases where a. man lrad_ paid his valuation fee, would discontinue making advances for the purchase of single farin' but would consider applications fron two or more soldiers eligible under tl>< Act, for the purchase of a property for sub-divsion. Where a soldier had sufficient money to provide the advances to Settlers Department with th c necessary' margin of security, he would be able to apply for the purchase of a farm through that channel. The restriction in regard to rural land would not apply to small poultry, bee, fruit and market-gardening farms. The Minister added that no applications for the discharge of existing mortgages would be accepted by the Government, unless in most exceptional circumstances, such as if the mortgagee could prove that he was charged or exorbitant rate of ijntei'esjt. If the mortgagee was paying the current rate of interest he must carry on. Advanceon current account for the purchase o’ I stock and implements, and for effect ing improvements would be dealt wit 1 ...s usual. It had been stated in e Wellington newspaper that much +re r ficking in soldiers lands was proceeding. That was not the case. The Department in a few cases had found it necessary to let soldiers out owing to their inability to work the land for one reason, or another, but the soldiers generally could not traffic in the land and houses purchased for them, until ton years had elapsed. Everything possible was done by the Department to stop any speculation or trafficking in these properties. Mr Guthrie added that all duplications passed up to September 23:d. had boon dealt with. The recommendations that had been made-by the Commissioners since that date would b closed up very quickly.