SOLDIERS ON THE LAND

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1928, Page 1

SOLDIERS ON THE LAND

FIVE MILLION'S AA’KITTEN OFF. CHRISTCHURCH, Alarch 14. At the official opening of tlie new Lees A'alley-Ashlev bridge, giving access to the Soldier settlement, the Minister for Lands, the Hon. Mr McLeod, who was an onlooker, was asked to speak, and made an interesting statement regarding the Government’s finances and -its policy concerning soldiers’ .settlements. “I am here as an onlooker,” said Air AJcLeod, “but I feel that it is a duty to meet the back-country settlers as often as possible. I desire to refer to the great question of soldier settlement, and to say, to-day, that... I. have been to every settlement that has more than three or four settlers, in the Dominion. Last year 1 was unable- to visit Lees Valley as I had intended. But to-dav, in addition to seeing the settlers, I am able to see how my mortgages are getting on. c La tighter). “I want to say. on behalf of the Government, that the problem of soldier settlement is' nearly cleared up. I feci that any problem, in regard to soldiers’ settlements, if we are given any reasonable stability in prices, will be a thing of the past. 1 want to extend to .all parts of the House, whether in opposition or not, my. own, and the Government’s appreciation of the trouble taken to straighten out soldier settlement. 1 am in the position to-da.v to announce for the first time that the Government have written off £5,000,000 of debts under the Soldiers’ Settlement Act, in capital and interest. Three and a half millions of this was capital and the rest interest, all of which was owing to the Consolidated Fund. Thirteen million pounds, out of accumulated surpluses from the Consolidated Fund were originally available for soldier settlement, so the money written off has not been borrowed money. The Government lias often been ci iticised for the muddle made of settlement of soldiers, but it is not difficult to lie wise after the event. I have always said, since my entrance into Parliament, some nine years ago. that, if we could settle soldiers on the land and keep them out of the cities and on tlio land, at a. cost of four or .fiyg millions, the money would be well spent. There is no doubt that same of the areas have been cut up too small. Alillions of pounds have been written ofl\ not because the land was too dear, but because some of - the areas were not big enough to . give anyone a decent living. There is no doubt that further advances would be a good tiling for some of tlie settlers, but we must keep the finances ol the country sound. You now have a Government Which is .endeavouring to keep its borrowing within reasonable limits. In my travels through the country, I have often heard it said that the stock and station firms are blood-suckers and robbers, hut mv Department lias often cause to thank them for the responsibility they have undertaken in financing settlers. I lie outlook to-day is sound, and given care in administration and economy, the future of the country is assured.”