SOLDIERS’ FARMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2033, 25 September 1919, Page 2

SOLDIERS’ FARMS.

QUESTION OF RE-PURCHASE,

; The',position of soldiers who sold their farms prior to going to the wars;> and are now being asked to pay ally enhanced prices for the same properties was brought before the House of Representatives on Tues- y day by Sir Joseph Ward. Sir Joseph quoted one instance of a man being asked to pay £2O per acre over Jjie price for which he sold his land prior to going to war, and said that tiio Government ought to take some action in the interests of the soldiers. He asked the Prime Minister whether lie did not consider that Parliament should pass legislation giving power to the State to resume such farms compulsorily at the price paid by the purchaser from the soldier, plus the cost of improvements. Those people who had bought the soldiers’ land should be regarded as temporary trustees. Possibly, to prevent any suggestion of unfairness, it might lie necessary io.give the purchasers 5 per cent, on , ■.heir money. The Prime Minister replied tl«& the matter had been under consideration, and he bad taken the opinion of Hie Solicitor-General on it. There was no precedent upon which to go, but-he agreed with the Leader of the Opposition that (lie men must lie protected. He would report to the House later on the subject. Dr. 11. T. J. Thacker (Christchurch East) said that flic protection proposed by Sir Joseph Ward ought to be extemhsl to the depend-

cuts of men who had died on ser- , vice. w The Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invorcar- ■ gill) said he had every sympathy with the men, but if the aspect of tlie question mentioned hy Sir Joseph Ward was gone into it would tie necessary to give facilities to men who had no land before they went away to secure holdings on equally favourable terms to those proposed to he given to the other class of men. Then it would only be just that the cases of men who had sold businesses and boincs should he considered. - Of course, what was at the root of the trouble was the fuel that • (bore bad been mi taxation such would have prevented,the inflation • of values.

The Minister of Lauds pointed out' that the Government had attempted to make it unnecessary for soldiers to sell their properties by appointing local trustees, but little advantage had been taken of this.