MILITARY SERVICE AND LAND AGGREGATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1677, 20 February 1917, Page 2

MILITARY SERVICE AND LAND AGGREGATION.

THE danger that aggregation of land would he one of the evils brought on indirectly by the operation of the Military Service Act has already been pointed out, says the Post. Small farmers called up in the ballot naturally wish to sell out for ready cash, and ready cash is usually forthcoming from the man who is firmly established on a big holding. At the last meeting of the Board of Agriculture a letter was received from a member of a Military Service Board stating that a number of farmers who are drawn in the ballot for military service, more especially in the back country, had frequently to dispose of their farms —“in numerous cases they sell at a considerable loss” —and pointing out that there is a danger in these circumstances of aggregation. The opinion was expressed

that it would be much more fair to these men if (he Government wore to purchase their properties for settlement by returned soldiers. The feeling of the Appeal Board in question was that some steps should be taken to find out the minimum number of men required for the industry, as well as a census of the number available. In connection with this point the board thought that some special enquiry should be made in the case of the small farmer working his own land without paid help, for in many cases the income trom the farm would be insufficient to pay the cost of hired labour. The board decided to endorse the suggestions contained in the letter, and to forward it on to the Hon. Minister of Defence.