LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1843, 22 June 1918, Page 3

LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

PRECAUTIONS FOR PURCHASE,

MINISTERIAL EXPLANATION.

, Yesterday a Post representative put some questions to the Minister of Lands (Hon. D. H. Guthrie) regarding offers of estates to the Government for settlement by returned soldiers.

“The position,” replied the Minister, “is that Parliament authorised the expenditure of £1,500,000 for the purchase of land for soldiers. This amount includes advances to these settlers to enable them to make a start.

“In regard to the fear that the Government may run a risk of paying inflated values for this land, I may say that such a danger is present in any land transaction. One can obviate such danger only by careful procedure, which (for the State purchases) is as follows; —When an offer is received from an owner of land, stating the price and terms for sale, it is transmitted to the Land Purchase Board for inspection and report. The land hi inspected very carefully, and if there is any doubt in the minds of members of the board that the land is too dear they have no hesitation in turning down the offer. As a precaution in certain cases, independent valuations by experts outside the Department are obtained. “In most cases the opinion is held that the board is altogether too conservative in its ideas of values. Every proposal of purchase has to be approved by Cabinet before the agreement cap be concluded. “The aim of the Administration,” concluded Mr Guthrie, “is to put the soldier on the land at a price on which he can be reasonably expected to make a success of his venture. In no ease is any offer of land accepted by the board where the members and the Minister arc not satisfied that the soldier settlers will Lave a reasonable prospect of success.”