SOLDIERS’ FARMS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5004, 23 July 1926, Page 3

SOLDIERS’ FARMS.

COUNTY COUNCIL PROBLEM.

VALUATION OF PROPERTIES.

The advisability ofl making a rer valuation of soldier settlements was stressed at the conference of the Counties? Association at Wellington on Tuesday.

Mr R. A. Rodger (Tapanui) moved the following remit: “That this conference considers the request of the Returned Soldiers? Association to the Minister in Charge of Valuations, that power be given to county councils to review all arrears of -rates owing by soldier settlers so, that all rating shall be on a sujrn not greater than that at which the property is valued and date back to the time of such valuation, and that, further power be granted to write off'further sums in cases which any council may consider necessitous.”

Mr L. T. McLean (Kiwitea) seconded the remit.

Mr C.- Johnstone . (Whatawhata) said that the sooner they put the returned soldier settlers on a proper footing the better it would be for everyone in the country. No one could have succeeded at the price at which these soldier stetlers were placed on the land. If it was, not for the soldiers, the country would not be in the position it wajs to-day. A deiegat asked : "What about the returned soldiers who bought land with their own money ?” He- thought that returned should; wait until the whole country was revalued. Mr Lowe (Thames,) said .that in his county the Government had placed returned soldiers on a block of land which was priced so high that the valuation had been reduced'by 70 per cent., and yeit those settlers were still paying 70 per cent, higher .rent than surrounding settlers who had bought after land had Mien in price. The remit was carried.