R.S.A. LAND SCHEME

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10603, 31 May 1920, Page 5

R.S.A. LAND SCHEME

4,000 STILL LANDLESS RING DOWN OP BIG ESTATES DEMANDED. Tho problem of securing land lor returned soldiers is dealt with at considerable length in tho fourth annual report of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association.

Tho land scheme adopted by the last annual conference, was substituted at the special, conference in October, 1919, by a scheme having as its foundation the compulsory acquisition of largo estates. (This scheme was unanimously adopted by the Dominion Farmers’ Provincial 'Conference'in July, 1917). Afc the January meeting of tho Dominion Executive, this land scheme was reaffirmed, and following a further rocoihmendation, a lands committee was set up. All matters pertaining to • land are reviewed by thorn, and their decisions placed before the executive standing committee. In this way, the committee hopes to deal quickly and effectively with tho numerous problems placed before thorn. LANDLESS ROLL. To give the committee an idea ns to the oxtoiVt of the demand for land throughout Now Zealand by the returned soldiers, your headquarters instituted a Landless Roll, compiled upon returns furnished by tho various local associations. The first returns were asked for by March 31st, 1920. and at that date the replies to hand showed that 430 men desired laud. Only 16 out of the 57 affiliated associations replied as requested. On April 30th, 643 men had been enrolled as being desirous of obtaining land, and only 27 associations had replied. It is intended to keep this roll up-to-date by adding to it ’monthly the names sent in by the various associations.

The main problems to be soolvod by the lands 5 committee were : —(I) Insufficiency of suitable land; (2) inflation of prices of suitable land; (3) wastage of capital of men in attending land ballots. THE PARING DOWN PROCESS. Tho solution arrived a t was the gradual paring down of large estateo of tho value of £IOO,OOO and over, the owners of which were to have land acquired compulsorily from them until the value was £<o,ooo. If the demands for land were not satisfied then, a further paring down (to £50,000) was to take place, and so on until the demand was satisfied. _ If this paring down process were carried out. compeition in purchasing land would be reduced, productivity .would bo stimulated, and the appetite for land would be satisfied.

Two further important points were recommended by the committee ; —(1) That the principal of Communal Setlemciit (in the form of outside activity) for T.B. and P.D. soldiers be approved, and tho Government be asked to extend the system at once. (2) That Colonel Mitchell’s scheme for settlement by fit men, of .bush and native lands bo put into operation at once. In spite of the numbers on the landless roll, it is believed that about 4000 men have yet to bo settled, and it behoves the Government to act qnicklv and whole-heartedly in the matter, so that the ravenous desire for land may be satisfied. The wheels of tho Land Department move slowly, and it is economically unsound to have so many men waiting to attain their object. Doubtless a thoroughly systematised organisation of land settlement would attract many more men, and tho productiveness of n. district would be increased many fold.