WHEN THE BOYS RETURN

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 212, 22 May 1915, Page 8

WHEN THE BOYS RETURN

AN AUCKLAND SCHEME.

OPENING UP THE UREWERA. GOVERNMENT ACTION NEEDED. The •Auckland Chamber of Commerce has under consideration a scheme for dealing with the problem of finding employment for our boys when they return from the war. It is suggested that the Government, in co-operation with the Patriotic Comi mittees, should devise a scheme for i opening up and settling the T'rewera country. With end -in view it is suggested that the returned troopers should be given facilities for obtaining and for maintaining theinI selves such time as the land is productive. It is pointed out that at the end of | the war a huge surplus will be dumped jon to the labour market. This may be 'a more or less gradual proeess, according to the rapidity with which the expeditionary force 13 disbanded, but it ,is obvious that it will take some time j for the industrial activities of the conntry to adjust themselves to the new conditions. It is urged that in the initerval it may very conceivably happen that men unable to obtain employment j will exhaust the useful ban!: balances they will have at their disposal on return, and that the object of compelling the men t,o bank part of their earnings will thus be rendered futile. ( The ITrewera is the wild tract of bush land lying between the Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay. Much of it is first-class land, but in the main it is in a virgin state, and tin prospecti»e settler will have many weary months of toil before he can command a return. At present the only access to the district, which covers a thousand square miles by road from Eotorua to Ruatahuna.

In conversation with a Btar reporter, Mr. Robert Burns, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, said the proposal was yet in embryo, and it was for the Patriotic Committee to say whether it considered it worth while to take the matter up and co-operate with the Chamber of Commerce in approaching 1 the Government. Obviously Government help would be required in the matter, for much had to be done in order to open up the country. 'For instance, a start could be made on a road to run from Euatoki to Laks Waikaromoana, while the survey would be a big task. Therewas a block of 1,000 square miles, and its entire population was 880. The Government had already spent about £60,000 in obtaining an interest in it, and a magnetic survey had already been carried out. Nothing could be done until the block was properly urveyed, and this should be pushed forward as a matter of extreme urgency. It was estimated to cost £50,000. Even if it cost £.60,000, it would only be equivalent to 2/- an acre on the cost of the land. Mr. Burns admitted that there were many of the returned men who would not want to go there, and there would be others who would quickly tire of the life. But it would give an opportunity to those who were genuinely desirous of settling on ♦ land and of investing their savings wisely when they returned. The benefit to the Dominion of opening up this vast area was incalculable. THE PREMIER'S PROMISE. "WILL DO MY BEST FOR THEM." •s • A statement on the policy of the Government in regard to providing for settlement for the troops when they return was made by the Prime Ministor.

Mr. Massey, has circularised the Crown Lands Commissioners .throughout the Dominion instructing that in no case should there be forfeiture of the land of settlers at the front for noncompliance with residence, improvements, or other conditions of the leases, and that facilities shall be given for transferences of sections when the holders desire to go to the front. "I intend during the coming session," continued Mr. Massey, "to introduce legislation authorising members of the expeditionary forces to apply for either Crown .Or settlement lands. In tho meantime, if any Land Board is satisfied that a bona fide relative, cr even a friend, is applying for land with ultimate view of transferring the section to a man at the front, the Board should use its discretion, and by no means treat such application as dmnmyism. I proposet to set apart in the near future suitable blocks of land for settlement by members of the expeditionary forces on their return. Unfortunately, the area of Crown lands of good quality now remaining is very limited, bat I intend to do my best for returning soldiers."