SOLDIERS RETURN

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3297, 6 August 1943, Page 7

SOLDIERS RETURN

WAIKATO SETTLEMENT UNALLOCATED LAND GOVERNMENT TO TAKE OVER At a recent meeting of the directors of the Waikato Land Settlement. Society. a resolution was passed unanimously recommending the Government Small Farms Board, at present administering the land originally purchased by the Society, to apply the balance of land unallocated after providing for present commitments, to returning soldier settlers, on the same terms and conditions as applied to the Society's settlers. The Government has adopted the recommendation. Mr D. V. Bryant, chairman of the Society, estimated that the area affected amounted to 3500 acres. Start of the Scheme It would be remembered, said Mr Bryant, that the Waikato Land Settlement Society sprang out of the needs of the depression years when the only land development plan for those out of work was the 10-acre scheme, and that £27,000 was collected as a nuc-

leus fund. All the prospective settlers were out of work, and the Government of the day allowed payment from the unemployment fund during development period. The Society set to work to house its settlers and, as soon as subdivisional plans could be made, erected houses. Thus homes with gardens grew as development proceeded, still on unemployment pay. In 1937 the final stage was reached, and sections were allocated to the first individual settlers, while a further number was almost ready for hiving off. Most of the present settlers have been on the land from three to six year and had “proved themselves 100 per cent.” They were a credit to New Zealand and to the Empire; they had greatly enhanced the value of their district; and they had indirectly assisted in solving the unemployment question. It was estimated that every successful farmer gave employment to persons indirectly. Shortly after the formation of the Society the Government passed its Small Farms (Relief of Unemployment) Act, and began by opening up certain areas in the Waikato. It happened early in 1938 that Mr Bryant, who had personally supervised the Society’s operations, broke down under the strain and was ordered to leave the country for a year. Before he left, however, he visited, with his co-direc-tors, the areas being brought in by the Small Farms Board tn ’ the King | Country. Impressed with the good

work of th(‘ dopniTment. the directors decided, with Mr Bryant's full approval. that tin* most, practical thing to do in the circumstances was to ask the Government Io take over the administration of the Society’s land. The Government agreed, undertaking to carry out Ihe policy of the Society in its entirely. It. was agreed further that the Waikato Land Settlement Society should remain intact, in an advisory capacity. Plan Has Worked Well Mr Bryant stall's mat Ihe plan has worked admirably. No suggestion of the Society has been turned down by the Government, nor has the policy been repudiated in any respect. At the time of handing over. £31,000 had been paid from the Unemployment Fund. “It is to be noted in regard to this that the money would otherwise have been spent,on unproductive work and that a much greater sum was actually handed over in land and under agreement with the title deeds." said M* Bryant.