SOLDIER SETTLERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4813, 20 February 1925, Page 3

SOLDIER SETTLERS.

INABILITY TO PAY RATES. COUNTY COUNCIL. TAKES ACTION. Rather a novelty in the way of a judgment debtor was introduced to the Hamilton Court on Tuesday in the person of a Whatawhata farmer who was able to produce a detailed statement of his ingoings and outgoings, with receipts for everything that he had purchased during .the last few ye;?rs.

Defendant, who was a returned soldier settler, was ii? debt to the Waipa County for the amount of five years’ rates. He explained to the Court that after he had paid 30 per cent, of his milk cheque to the Receiver of Land Revenue he had scarcely enough to live on, let alone pay his rates. The first year he had put 25 cows on the farm, but the next year the property would support only 16 Even these died, and he then had. to set to work to more adequately grass the property. Mr F. Swarbrick, who appeared for the County, intimated that the case was really taken to demonstrate, the fact that a considerable number of soldier settlers simply could not pay their rates. If the soldiers could not meet their obligations it was the duty of tiie Government to recompense-the County Council for itis loss. It was not a fair thing for the County Council to have to stand a big loss of revenue represented by the soldier settlers’ inability to pay. Tin County itself should not be asked to carry the burden blit the loss should be distributed over the entire country. His Worship was satisfied that defendant, after providing for bare necessities. had mottling left with which to pay old accounts, and refused 10 make an order.