LANS, LOANS, SOLDIERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10613, 11 June 1920, Page 4

LANS, LOANS, SOLDIERS

We have no wish to grudge a new Minister the enjoyment of tho first post-prandial moment accorded him by admiring constituents at tho outset of his Ministerial career. Especially as there was some reason for tho Hon. G. J. Anderson’s exultant handling of tho big figures of tho war finance. In the first place, those figures as a whole arc a most remarkable evidence of the great strength, which Is a legitimate source of gratification to the people of the Dominion, of the country’s fine resources. In tho second place, the figures show that in the matter of millions sterling, tho country", primarily at the instigation of the late National Government, Is treating generally, with just and commendable liberality, the soldiers who fought for the country’s honour and welfare with such splendid success. For these reasons we share the new Minister’s very natural gratification, to which he' has given such practical expression. But wc cannot avoid expressing considerable regret that tho settlement of the men on the land has been, to a great extent, gone" about in the wrong way. The flood of expenditure in the purchase of private lands has caused a boom, which has alarmed the public and frightened into considerable perplexity the Government, which ought to have foreseen the result of its ill-considered expenditure. "We regret this all the more, because several millions which were wisely reserved for a more profitable purpose have been spent in forwarding this deplorable result. Tho end ot what has been done, it is difficult to foresee clearly. But it is satisfactory that tho Government recognises that nothing more of tho same kind ought to bo done.