The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1916. LAND FOR SOLDIERS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 146, 23 June 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1916. LAND FOR SOLDIERS

(With which is incorporated The Tai bape Tost and Waimarino News.)

The Prime Minister seems to be possessed of. a pre disposition to place those who are on his side of politics in an invidious and uncomfortable position. In a recent issue we mentioned that he had brought forth a volley of derisive “Ohs.” in the House by definitely stating that there had not been one case of land aggregation Now. in reading over the debate on the “Soldiers’ Land Settlement Bill,” we find that the Premier is not only quite cognisant of these cases of land aggregation, but has given his promise to the House to see if any of the aggregated estates can be made available to soldiers. What we should be ex peedingly gratified to know is whether his promises are tinctured with any more truth than his definite statements: whether they are more dependable than his assertions made from his place in the House. Possibly the Premier does not give the country credit for the perspicacity it is most certainly capable of, and which it unmistakeably applies to the lamentably divergent utterances he makes. One day we are told there is no land aggregation, the next we are promised that the aggregated estates can be made available for soldiers. We hesitate to discuss such dissembling. Members of the House may have similar sensations, as they are taking a course that will ntirely remove the control of land provision for soldiers cut of the Premier’s hands. It is diplomatically stated that there is no doubt about Mr Massey’s zeal on behalf of returned soldiers, but with growing responsibilities it is highly desirable he should obtain relief somewhere, and the House proposes to hand the care of returned soldiers, so far as the provision of land is concerned, to Mr MacDonald, the Minister for Agriculture,

Strange though it may seem it was one of Mr Massey’s most ardent supporters, Mr Guthrie, who proposed that the Premier should be relieved of responsibilities under the Soldiers’ Land Settlement Bill, and that a new department be created to take over the Wrork contemplated. Mr Guthrie’s suggestion was seized upon and many champions were soon voicing almost unanswerable reasons why it should be adopted. There appeared to be an earnest desire cn the part of all speakers to the question that a generous provision should be made for the men who had placed their lives at the disposal of their Empire. It was understood that the North Island gave much wider opportunities for settling soldiers than the South Island and it was with a view to having suitable lands selected and made available that the House thought it advisable to buy a 1 new broom in the hope that it would sweep clean. We hope, our Represntative will give the new Department the benefit of the valuable volume of information he possesses of the huge tracts of beautiful fattening country in this district that should be available for closer settlement such as the Bill provides for, and that he will just keep busy prodding the prospective head of the new department on till the miles of beautiful country, just a few miles from Taihape, ares inspected and arrangements made for their acquisition, The present furnishes an opportunity for the local Chamber of Commerce to do something for the town- and district that will completely overshadow anything done in the past, and, very probably, anything it will be able to accomplish in the future. Close settlement means progress and flourishing business with additional conveniences to settlers, to say nothing of sequential increase in value of town and country properties. There will be greater production, payment for which will be spread over many families. We •have nothing to say against the pioneers who found it necessary to take up miles of country to get a satisfactory living on in the days when the land they occupied was very many miles from settlement, and at atima when easy transport was unknown. These men have, however, reaped their reward-, and they must now consent to divide with the men who are returning, many of them almost penniless, after sacrificing everything they pos-. sessed to give their lives, if necessary, that we might remain secure from the German thief of land and liberty. These soldiers must be provided for, and' as .this district has all the , essentials for ' furnishing what is required to found a closely settled prosperous colony of our returned heroes, it behoves us t;o be aliveto the opportunity. Progressive mfen in other localities will be on the alert and there seems no reason why we should be caught napping. .. ' I