Soldier Settlement.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1922, Page 4

Soldier Settlement.

LEVIN, July 10. Sir Andrew Russell, president of the Dominion R.S.A.. addressed a public gathering here at the Soldiers’ Carnival on tlie question nf soldiers’ settlement. lie said it was unfair In blame He Government, generally for the position in which many returned mi n found themselves, because if the Government had not purchased land there would have been a howl from end to end of the Dominion, hut if the same foresight and wisdom had been shown in logard lo land settlement as had been shown in the ease of repatriation to trades, by setting up hoards of experienced men to ensure that no soldier went on j the land without a fair change of sue cess, there would not now he such urgent need for action as a result. Many men were put on land with altogether insufficient experience and training and had not had lime to learn to farm in a skilful way before the fall in produce prices came. Another mistake made was iu not appointing at whatever cost, experienced supervisors to instruct those men. The R.X.A. suggested to the Government that the whole question was too serious to he put off by expressions of pious goodwill. It was necessary that past icuts should he written off where it can he shown that the men were unable to pay. Then there should he revaluation for rental pnrposts. Melt unable to make a success of farming at those reduced lontals should go off the land and make way for those who could make ends meet. Finally they advocated revaluation for capita! purposes, which was not so urgent but very necessary. Prices of produce, 1 were not stabilised yet, but the R.X.A. urged tlpit revaluation should he based on the prices of produce for the past twelve years. They did not claim that ns the best basis, imt said to the Government find a hotter one. The JI.S.A. made it strong point of the soldier helping himself by co-operation, improving his herds ami shouldering it is obligations. Many at present were depressed because they could not see blue water ahead. Like the unjust steward in the Bible story, the Government should write off so much of their indebtedness and restore the hope that they hud lost.