OPTIONS ON LAND

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10290, 27 May 1919, Page 5

OPTIONS ON LAND

MARLBOROUGH PROPERTIES OFFERED. A deputation from the Marlborough ' district -waited upon the Minister tor Lands yesterday to otter him a number of local properties suitable for soldier settlement. The deputation, which, in the unavoidable absence of the member for the district (Mr B. McCallum), was introduced by Mr J. Colvin, M.P., comprised Messrs J. J. Corry (Mayor of Blenheim), C. White (Patriotic Society), G. M. Mackay (Chamber of Commerce), H. Mitchell ' (Repatriation Board), and A. Thompson (Returned Soldiers’ Association).. Mr Corry said that the district had sent over 800 men to the front, 300 of •whom had already returned. They had options to submit to the Minister on ‘4200 acres in all, and if the land was purchased they were quite sure that they had the local men to settle on the land immediately. He stressed the suitability of Marlborough as a district far soldier settlement, especially for seed-growing, pea-growing, fruit, lucerne, and dairying. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie said that he would have the propositions submitted to him investigated without any delay. It would be entirely a question of the value of the land, the price put upon It, and its possibilities for soldier settlement purposes. He explained that he was increasing the strength of the Land Purchase-Board by appointing local representatives in each district to advise the board, and was also appointing supervisors of soldier settlements.