SOLDIERS' FARMS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1932, Page 6

SOLDIERS' FARMS

THE ANNUAL REPORT.

-** v (%* * —!•*.»*■ ;i.‘ WELLINGTON, November 3. /'‘Reports received -from the various land, districts, show that our soldier aettlefs-ai’e meeting the difficulties-of the times with an admirable spirit and are, as a rule, doing- -their best with their land in an endeavour to , meet tlnii* •'oliligatidns and. to better their own positions,” states the annual report on 'Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement presented m the House. l>y the Minister of Hands, Hon. ; E. A. Ransom. .uo* -i" - ' The report poirit* out that the ad‘ministration ‘of soldier settlements is' still' far from be;ng a routine ..anattisr.B of collecting rent and interest,Usance sympathetic control a nt guidance will be needed'for years :toi -come if the Work bogHn by , the passing of tlie Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act of 1915- is, to be completed in a fitting mariner.

During the past year a great part 'of tho. administration; has centred round problems connected with’ keeping settlers, on their ..farms, continues the report.’ The prevailing unemployment and reduction, of incomes have ,in many ;cases made difficult . the payment of the principal port of instalments falling due pr by readjusting mortgages to.'extend, the term, for repayment on a lower, instalment basis.,

Loams authorised .during the _ year ended if arch §l’ 1932,' numbered 817, involving a total amount of £134,183..

Tlie amounts outstanding on sundry debtors . and postponements accounts, increased from £447,271 at the end of tlie previous -year to .'.Xlash receipts; also showed; a decline pf £158,243 from the previous year’s figures. . :The total area-of land acquired from the; Crown' by discharged soldiers and held at . March 31 amounted to 2,821,533 acres, divided among 4474 soldiers into 4356 holdings. . The annual rental qinpuntsto £335,886,- while, sales, im eluding sales .by deferred payment, lidye realised £89,466,

The administration of soldier current accounts- still presents considerable difficulties, continuesthe report. Being in a,position to. control, farm revenue:;, arid through-its 'localofficersto view the situation of each .farm from the standpoint of ..landlord or land and: stock mortgagee, the department has been able to decide to what extent each of* the account'' of .any settler may bo improved without imf pairing tlie efficiency of the farm and with the least interference and worry to the settler. .

“Advances have been made in most bases without any great margin of. se» curity. Many of the accounts are not yet very sound, and many others, cover farms where there is in prdinary'times littlemore than a bare living, so that a constant and close watch over them and the farming methods Adopted' is-necessary. .; .