THE PROBLEM OF LAND SETTLEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1928, Page 2

THE PROBLEM OF LAND SETTLEMENT

(Wellington “Dominion.”) The usefulness of the discussion in the House of Representatives on the subject of soldier settlement oil the ; land was marred by the obvious desire of Oppostion members to make party capital out of the difficulties of the situation. It is well known and admitted that in meeting the urgency of the demand for land for returned soldiers at ...the close of the war, a false .standard) of . land values was created. Popular sentiment quite properly insisted that every possible assistance should be given to returned soldiers to acquire land, and )those who&e memories will carry hack to that period following on the cessation of hostilities will recall how urgent the demand was. IHe Government was pressed to strain to __ the utmost to assist the men w o risked their lives in the service thpir country. ■ //i H,;/ ■ ;■ '\- The complaints that are now fid- 1

vanced by critics of the Government, based on the ground that many sol-dier-settlers have been unable to make a success of their farming ventures, are on the whole most unjust. AVh Uever the Government of that- Lygcnp day advised caution ' it was shot 1 ed. down and assailed as shirking its obligations to the returned soldiers:* And the chief complainants wore- the bers of the Opposition in Parliam Admitting that in the rush to-roSW. the requirements nf would-be soldiersettlers bad bargains. • were at times made; it must also be recognised 1 hat in a large percentage of cases the land so purchased was selected by lhe men themselves. The officers of the Government, in many cases, did ; hot choose the land at all, hut merely reported on and often reluctantly approved the financial commitments involved.

This now is ancient history, brt\ it is necessary to recall the circumsta "ees which governed the position at the time the purchases were made, bee-use of the unfair criticism which too cAeti is indulged in to-day. No Gpvel'ni'i'ii«^ l _ could have resisted tl i pressure ex- v erted a't the time, ar l as of public policy it is doubtful if would have been wise to affront popular sentiment by any apoearanc" of ■: disregarding the services rendered by our citizen soldiers.

The extent to which the State has since met ree'H c c +he situation in relieving soldier-settlers whose ventures have proved unsuccessful <!oes not appear to leave any room for hostile criticism. Complete and independent investigations hn"e been made into all known cases of .hardship, and as a result very large sums been written off by the State —s”ms.. running into millions of pounds—to assist the men to retrieve their position and make good on their holdings. It cap . be taken for granted, however, that whatever the Governments had done in this respect, 'its would still have been clamouring it had fallen short of requirements. It is election year and any Government is fair game for its" opponents when votes are being wooed.