SOLDIER SETTLERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4634, 5 December 1923, Page 4

SOLDIER SETTLERS.

EXCEPTIONAL WORTHLESS PEAT LANDS. , MINISTER ADVOCATES REMOVAL The plight of the returned soldier settlers on the peat land's, near Mongawhero, Patetonga, and Kaihere was pointed out to the Acting Minister of Lands, Hon. W. Nosworthy, by a deputation of civilian settlers at Patetonga on Saturday last. Mr Wallace said that the deputation was disappointed that the Ministers could not meet them on the Mangawhero R!oad as there were many matters there which the deputation would like to have spoken about and possibly have taken the Ministers to ■see. He was speaking on behalf of the returned soldier settlers on a block of land on the Mangawhero Road. This block of land was useless, and the position could not be righted by a revaluation. The soldiers were prepared to go as a body off the land unless something were.'done. He believed that the Ministers had the welfare of these men at heart —men who had been on the land for over five years arid had proved in that time that the land was. useless. These men had come on to the'land with their young wives hoping to make flourishing homes. They had spent Government money and their own money and were prepared to forego their money if they were only put on good land. There was another block‘on the Mangawhero Road which was also useless, said the speaker. With these men, the difficulty was in borrowing. They had an advance of £750 to develop 176 acres. They should be given power under the Advances to Settlers Act to borrow 75 per cent., as was possible in the case of busn land, where advances were made up to £1250. He believed the Ministers could right the matter brought) under their notice. Mr E. A. Reidy said that some of the land was impossible to drain. There were drains 3ft. 6in. deep, and alongside the water was over the boot tops. He really thou'gtt that the Mangawhero sections were worthless. Mr Wallace said that two of these men had already left their farms. Mr T. McLoughlin said that some years ago one man had 100 head grazing on his section. Last year it was only possible to milk ten cows, and this year only three cows were being milked. The land was rapidly going back. The men were genuine tryers, and the Government had treated them well. Now they required a little more money to enable them to carry on. Regarding the Patetonga land, it could not be valued, as it had no value. The suggestion was made that when the members of the Valuation Board visited the district they should avail themselves of the advice and experience of civilian settlers. - Mr F. J. Mayn said that the soldiers considered that the department had treated them well. The trouble was that the land valuers.were working in country; quite foreign to them and had made mistakes. The soldiers were hard workers and the only trouble was the quality of the land. That was the reason why the matter had been brought up, and it was felt that provision would surely be made to redres's the wrong. The land was really worthless, and it was felt that valuers would make the same mistakes in future. Peat land should be inspected both in summer and in winter. It was for. that reason that it was urged that some local civilian be appointed to the Valuation Board. He mentioned that two civilians settlers had walked off their farms. The Hon. Minister said that he regretted very fnuch that returned soldiers.had fallen on such unfortunate positions. A Government- 1 made mistakes just as any person was liable to make mistakes. The civilian speakers admitted that they had made mistakes. He assured them that the Government had 1 not done it intentially. Though it was possible to get ‘an increased advance for these men he felt it would be better to. put them on fresh land, if the position was so bad. He would review the position with the Hon. Mr Bollard, and the officers of his 'department and endeavour to have the men shifted. The Valuation Board would review the situation and would be gled to avail Itself of civilian advice. Mr J. B. Thompson, chairman of-the Valuation Board, had jus.t informed him that he would write that evening and . instruct that this be done. The best thing would be' the review, but the position appeared so hopeless that keeping the settlers would be throwing good money after bad. It -would be better to Arid some better land elsewhere. The country had spent £30,000,00’0 in assisting rer turned soldiers and tie would say that th?y deserved it. Most of them were worthy men who worked hard, but it must be realised that some were no,t trying. The Government was out to help the tryers, as it realised that they deserved help. ,

The Hon. R. F. Bollard/Minister of Internal Affairs, said that he endorsed what Mr Nosworthy had said. He knew the troubles of the settlers on the deep peat. If these men on expecting to make a living they should be in gaol. It would be advisable to take the settlers off and put them somewhere where they can make a decent living. Mr F. J. Mayn quoted a case where four brothers had taken up a block of land. They had spent £B5O and had worked for four years. They had even raised money on their life insurance policies, but had never asked assistance from the Department. For six weeks last winter 230 out of their 289 acres were under water, and consequently they had to walk off. Their clearing sale had realised just enough to nay the bank overdraft, and they left with merely the clothes they ; wore. The department had said that a refund of the money 'spent could not ' be made, and he asked the Ministers i if they would go into the matter and ; consider the question of a refund. Mr Nosworthy undertook to have the matter looked into.

Speaking later at Torehape. Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P. /or Thames, said that the returned soldiers- of that district thought that they should have the chance of availing themselves of civilian advice on the Valuation Board as the soldier settlers of Pate,tonga. The Minister said that they would have the same chance. The Government had shown a disposition to meet the returned soldiers. It had made up its mind to concentrate on helping the genuine cases. At Waitakaruru the matter of revaluation was again brought up. Mr C. W. Harris said that the returned soldier settlers were entitled to serious consideration. Some-ot the land wa<: valued up to as high as £2O an acre, and except for the fact that the settlers had' been able to obtain work from the Lands Department they would not have been able to carry on. Mr C. Clark, a returned soldier settler;, said that they Were plugging along as best they could. They had been shown great consideration by the ranger. He did not wish to say anything further in view of the approaching visit of the Valuation Board. The soldiers had received every consideration from the Lands Department in the matter of obtaining employment and for-this were very thankful, as they were making nothing on their farms. The Minister said' that he. was pleased to hear the remarks of Mr Clark, He was one of the tryers. The land was good, and Would be all right in time. He realised that the soldiers had. had a bad time, and thought that their best course would be to wait until the Valuation Board had done its work. He did not want any political influence exercised on the Board, but exceptional cases required exceptional treatment, and in those cases he had given a broad indication of what the Government should do. The majority of them should be left to the Valuation Board and the Dominion Board to deal with. Ho would have pleasure, with his colleagues, in looking over the work of the Dominion Board.