UNDUE DEDAY OF REVALUATION.

Shannon News, 27 January 1925, Page 1

UNDUE DEDAY OF REVALUATION.

It is nearly six months ago since the District Revaluation Committee appointed under the provisions of the - Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Bill, undertook the work of revaluing soldiers farms; in the--Makowhai, Fairfield, Kopane, McKenzie and Cloverlea settlements. Universal dissatisfaction and discontent is Said to exist throughout these districts, Owing to the fact that up to the present no news, good, bad or indifferent, as reached these settlers as to the outcome of the work done by the local Revaluation Committee. It is fairly certain that the reason and cause of the delay does not rest with the District Committee. It was stated in fhe House last session that the field Work of the Wellington Revaluation Committees was expected to be completed by the end of October last, and the delay, therefore, lies no doubt with the Dominion Board. In the-meantime the position of those soldier settlers who are living in doubt as to their future position is most unsatisfactory. Many’of them are convinced oy now that unless some substantial reli> f is given them, it is impossible for them to carry on. Although a certain amount of relief has been received’by some of them by way of a postponement of one half-year’s interest, they are still expected to pay the interest on the original purchase price. Considerable loss in both capital and revenue is also experienced by many of them on account of serious disease among their stock. Owing principally- to the smal holdings,, no doubt, contagious abortion is rampant on many farms, and unfortunately the stringent financial conditions with which many of the men are handicapped, make it practically impossible for them to replace such heavy losses.

Moreover, the present state of doubt and uncertainty is not conducive to good farming. The sense of security i of tenure is anything but strong in many cases, and many feel reluctant to spend money for seed and manure in order to put in crops or otherwise t' improve their properties. It is also being felt by many that, owing to the somewhat improved conditions existing among producers today, the Dominion Revaluation Board might not be inclined to grant the same concessions as it would have done, say, six months ago. If this was „ the case, it would certainly constitute an injustice to these soldier settlers whose revaluations have been delayed ' through no fault of theirs. Ou\ September 23, the Minister of Lands (the I-lon. McLeod) stated in the House . that up to September 20, 61 per cent « of the total applications had been dealt with by the Dominion Board, and reductions amounting to £1,087,000 had been granted. Seeing that the Wellington District Committees were ,< well in the lead—when compared with e other District Committees —with completing their field work and making their reports, it is to be hoped that the many settlers in the surrounding districts will receive full satisfaction from the Dominion Revaluation Board at an early date.