SOLDIER SETTLERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4379, 17 February 1922, Page 4

SOLDIER SETTLERS.

LAND OVERVALUED. SOME REDRESS REQUIRED. The fact that a great deal of land in the Patetonga and neighbouring areas on which returned soldiers are settled is much overvalued and causing much undue hardship, was a subject of discussion at a meeting of settlers at Patetonga on Tuesday night. Mr F. J. Mayn was in the chair. Mr McGuinnis said that at Kaihere a capable committee had been set up to deal with the matter during the Parliamentary visit.' He would welcome outside help, and it would give a little more influence. He had gone to Wellington to state the case, but it had not been as successful as he would have liked. He had asked Messrs Poland and Rhodes, M’s.P., io divert the party down o the Tramway Road. Mr Poland Had replied that the Parliamentarians would be urged to go down the tramline. Mr Mayn said that though the land was not poor land, it was slow to come in, and some hardship was caused. The returned man who went bn a Government section, it was thought by some, was under an obligation to the Government. He contended that the soldier settler was in no different position to a man who had paid a deposit on a property. The soldier settlers should have justice. The Government realised and admit--ted that some land had been over-> valued. Why won’t they toe the line regarding the returned soldiers, he said. There was a political influence at work. The returned soldier was actually 'getting nd return for his money at all. That man would be practically ruined. He would be better to walk off the land. The Government was victimising the soldier settle” . A deputation should be appoint-■ to join with a deputation the retu'-’.- al men would no doubt appoint. Some land, he maintained, valued at £2O an acre, was not worth more than £lO. REVALUATION IMPOSSIBLE; Mr McGuinnis said that it was impossible to revalue for three years. That being the case, some assistance should be given to the men on those lands. Some pressure should be

brought to bear to obtain relief. Postponement i of rent was only delaying the evil hour, as the amount due at the end of the period would be excessive. The Government was even reluctant to grant relief by remission. Mr McLoughlin said that if the Government could not revalue, the rent should be wiped 'off till a revaluation was possible. He thought one or two Patetonga men should work with the Kaihere deputation. Mr 0. Clarkin said that the M’s.P. should be taken on to some of the land, and they would soon know .whe-> ther or not it should be revalued. Mr Patterson said that while the country was lying idle it was a dead loss. They should point out some method of bringing t)ie land in and put it before the Parliamentarians. The land should be made productive; then it would pay the country. Mr Williams said that a man who had some land for seven years could not make it pay, so how could a new ■settler on similar land make a living ? Mr- Patterson: Do you think that you will get the Government to admit that its officers have made blunders ? By draining and working the land you will bring it in. It should be continuously drained. Mr Clarkin said that a certain section had been valued at £l7 per acre, and across the road there was a difference in valuation of £lO per acre. Mr McLoughlin proposed, and M.'

Boatswain seconded, that Messrs Mayn and O’Dwyer represent Pate-i tonga and act with the Kaihere committee with regard to asking revaluation or relief for the soldier settlers. The motion was carried-/. Mr Rogers urged that if revaluation was not forthcoming they should no: accept a postponement. Mr Mayn said that sections on the Maukoro estate were grossly overvalued, and he thought the meeting should instruct the delegates to do something tor the men there. The county council could do nothing fo< them, as the council was working on the Government valuation. A section bought in boom time for £3OO had been-, valued at £5OO. Mr Williams moved that the delegates should pay attention to the Maukoro estate. Mr R. Muir seconded, and the motion was carried, Mr Mayn said that the settlers and county council had applied for redress for those settlers, but had got none. Mr.McGuinnis expressed his appreciation of what the meeting had done in the matter of soldier settlers.

The Hauraki Plains County Council’s riding balances at January 31, were: Turua Riding (debit), £2268 7s7d; Waitakaruru Riding (debit), £713 17s Id ; Nethertpn Riding (credt it), £BO Os 3d; Patetonga Riding (debit). £699 6s 9d ; Tahuna Riding (debit), £BB6 3s 10d, The balance in the loan accounts on the same date were: Netharton Roads Loan, £2477 12s 6d; Tahuna Roads Loan, £1053 3s 7d.