LAND FOR SOLDIEERS.

Taihape Daily Times, 14 March 1919, Page 5

LAND FOR SOLDIEERS.

RIGHTS OF MEN IN CAMP,

NECESSITY FOR DISCHARGES,

A slight difficulty has cropped up in regard to the settlement on the land of soldiers who were in camp at the time of the signing of the armistice. The legislation dealing with this matter gives to all fit men in camp at the time when the war ended all (be rights to Land given to soldiers who have served overseas, except that of takingpart in a ballot, for land specially reserved for the settlement of soldiers. But the Act prescribes that land may bo given only to “discharged soldiers,” and none of the men released from camp were given discharges. Every man received a certificate of leave in ileu of discharge, and the land boards who have the administration of sol-

diers’ settlements have held that they aro not permitted by the, law to consider that this certificate is sufficient. They require a soldier applicant for land to obtain a discharge. This the soldier should be able to do, but ho must make application to the Defence authorities for his discharge.

It should be noted that the provision in favour of the men who were in camp at the time when the armistice was signed 'applies to all men. who wore in camp at the time who w'ent in as fit men. Most of these would, as a matter of course, be members of a reinforcement draft in training for active service, but those men who were actually doing home service work in camp arc not excluded from the benefits of the Act. If they went into camp as fit men they are entitled to land under the conditions specified. Over-age men and unfit men took home service jobs in the camp are not entitled, Neither are the men * who, -■after having! gone into camp at fit men. vrere discharged as unfit men before the signing of the armistice. 1