LAND FOR SOLDIERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10604, 1 June 1920, Page 7

LAND FOR SOLDIERS

THE SCHEME CRITICISED. ADMINISTRATION OF DISCHARGED SOLDIERS ACT. "The land problem is besot with many difficult points," said Dr. E. Boxer, president of the Nevy Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, when delivering his presidential address to the annual conference of the association yesterday. "Land difficulties will remain our greatest hurdle. I don't think that tho matter of increased pensions is a hurdle; it is a reasonable proposition to put up. Throughout tho whole country, tho greatest difficulties thinkers and economists are faced with is the problem of correct settlement pf men orf the land, whether it be urban or rural areas.' The conference should • consider the temporary suspension of the provisions of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act. "When there was no money in tho exchequer for a certain purpose it was only right that the demand under particular appropriations should bo restrained. He had great sympathy with tho man who found himself settling down to the end of his cash halance and had to call "Taihoa." This is what ho took it the Government had to do. One might be in sympathy with them, hut lie felt that certain things should he done which had not been done, and it would bo_ for the conference to express an opinion. Mr P. A. Watt (Wjaikato) said that ho had never been in favour of tho Government's land policy because ho bolioTc-d it created an unfortunate position in regard to tho currency. Land had been bought at values which were top high. Tn a way ho had no objection to tho Government restricting its present activities in connection with land. Only a very small portion of tho returned men had been Bottled on tho land, and it was nccesBary to find a better scheme to work on. The Government should be impressed with the necessity of working to that end.

"I believo that as an association wo ought to make it clear that wo are of opinion that the Government is decidedly to blame in this matter of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act," said Mr W. E. Leadlov (Christchurch, "In my opinion, the_ matter has been handled very unsatisfactorily by the Minister for Lands. At the very least, lie should have given our association some notice of his intention to withdraw thoso provisions. As it is, all over tho country men have entered into contracts to purchase land and build houses, and now they find, to use a soldier's phrase, that they 'are in tho soup.' At the last conference wo wero informed by Mr Massey that the Government would give twelve months' notice of their intention to withdraw any benefits under, tho Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, and now they havo been withdrawn at a moment's notice, and tho .only satisfaction wo can get is that the money lias run out"."