SOLDIER SETTLERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10286, 22 May 1919, Page 3

SOLDIER SETTLERS

DEPUTATION WAITS ON MINISTER FOR LANDS.

Press Association

DAN NEVIRRE, May 21. The Hon.. D. H. Guthrie, Minister for Lands, at Dannevirke last evening, met a number of local deputations. One from the soldiers urged -the speedy opening up of the Tiratu" Mock, an increase in tile Government grant in specially approved cases, and a” alteration in the tenure to permit a soldier to buy out a neighbouring soldier if he wanted to.

Tho Minister held out no . hope of permitting soldiers aggregating in tins way, and said an extension of the present limit of advance was a mattei tor Cabinet. Ho said that Trratu block would be opened in July. The ballot would be held at Dannevirke. A water supply for the block would be provided, and the sections, would range in area from 10U to 250 acres. The Minister was also approached by a big deputation from the Chamber of Commerce on the subject of land aggregation. He said, he was fully alive to what was going on, and intimated that in certain cases under notice the provision of the Act of last session would be put into force if the presefit intention of suspected aggregators was carried out. Ho intended making an attempt to close the loophole in the clause of the last Act relating to aggregation. Other matters dealing with the shortage of railway trucks, stock, repatriation, and the electoral headquarters of the Pahiatua electorate were brought under tho Minister’s notice, and will be referred to the different Ministers concerned.