LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 91, 18 July 1918, Page 2

LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Opinion of Matamata Councils The Whangarei County council forwarded a resolution to the Matamata County council dealing with poorer classes of land being offered to returned soldiers. The motion contended that the scheme in this respect could only end in failure of the soldiers, and loss to the country. Further, it was considered that particulars of proposed purchases should be submitted to a committee of practical men conversant with the nature of the land. Cr. Potts thought the Government should put the soldiers on unimproved land and let them improve it. They would thus be doing themselves and the country a service. The chairman said it seemed that the Government was not making a success of its scheme. Some men now on the land were totally, unfit. It would be better to pension them off altogether. Cr Stopford gare it as his opinion that it was a downright shame to put men on land in the Waikato without capital. If they could not get manures the land would go back, and they would have to go off. Cr. Pohlen advocated smaller* areas —say sixty acres —and a classification of applicants for certain lands. Cr. Banks again propounded a scheme to pay soldiers wages for a certain period, to work under a practical man on improvement work, the cost to be added to the price of the land. Cr. Barnett endorsed Cr. Banks' remarks, stating that the men who worked on the improvements should have the preference at the ballot. It was decided to strongly support the resolution.