SOLDIERS' FARMS.

Shannon News, 23 September 1924, Page 2

SOLDIERS' FARMS.

VALUATION QUESTION. AUCKLAND, August 11. A good deal of disappointment exists among soldier settlers over the result of the revaluation scheme. l|iere are localities,' notably those in" which virgin land was taken up by the soldiers, where ,the Revaluation Board's decisions (have given satisfaction, and here and there in developed districts relief has been granted to individuals to an extent reasonably expected. Nevertheless there exists in circles a very decided undercurrent of dissatisfaction; ' i It is somewhat difficult to' bring the matter into right focus, for two reasons. One is the difficulty presented by the confirmed pessimist, who habitually complains. More often than not he Js afflicted with "nerves," 'a legacy his war service, and finds it difficult to see much good in anything. The second reason is the diffidence of the men to state fully their cases on paper. These nervous disorders are far more common among returned soldiers than is''generally realised. Even though the men Appear to be in sound' healtih, "nerves" \ no doubt play a part and. allowance must be made for the effects of .'nerves" in any reView of the situation. At the same time, from inquiries made in quarters where the financial state of numbers of soldier settlers is well known, and where personal knowledge is possessed of the men and their outlook, it appears that the complaints of lack of uniformity in revaluation judgments, mentioned in the House of Representatives by the member for Patea, are fairly common. °

"Frankly," said one soldier settler. "I do hot care much which way it goes. Rather than face mere years of worry and uncertainty I often feel I should abandon the farm and take a job, but, somehow, I hate to* 'throw up the sponge' as long as there is a chance. I like the life, and if likes me, but, as matters now stand, I cannot see daylight at all. I was a fool to buy at the price and the Government was rather a bigger fool, in financing me, but the point is this: Is my loss, and the loss of so many more, to be cut sufficiently to keep us on the land, or is it to be cut so little that we will be driven off and other men allowed to take it up practically at their own value? The error was made on a wholesale scale, and. even without considering the soldiers wasted years, it surely should be rectified with some degree of boldness. The Government seems to be acting the part ■of a soldier who has gone 'over the top' into a 'thick ■affair' and : afterwards is afraid to try to consolidate the position." Tjhe most recent complaint that has come under the notice of the Returned Soldiers' Association relates to the eligibility of certain valuers. The writer states that sometime- after two , members of a committee visited his property a third man arrived. This man, he states, had been one of the valuers for the Government during the buving boom, and although he had not valued this particular property for purchase purposes, he had acted as a valuer in the same district in regard to the same class of land. It is the settlers' opinion that the DOminion Revaluation Board should be asked that in cases where a second valuation is necessary valuers should have had absolutely no previous connection with soldier settlement.