SOLDIER SETTLEMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 August 1919, Page 5

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT.

SOME SUGGESTIONS MADE TO MINISTERS. Members of the House of Representatives are losing no time in question-‘ ing Ministers on the subject of soldier settlement. At the opening of the Session on Thursday, Mr G. \Vitty (Riccarton) gave notice to ask the Minister for Lands next sitting day why returned soldiers who take up land under the Discharged Soldiers’ Land Settlement Act have to pay a higher rate. of interest than civilians pay under the Land for Settlement Act. Mr G. Hunter (Waipawa) gave notice of ‘his intention to ask the Prime Minister whether it was the intention of the Government to amend section 60 of the Land Laws Amend'ment Act, 1916, with a view to giving relief to soldiers Who, because of being away at the trout, were unable tc_ acquire the freehold of their leaseholds within the five years limit prescribed by the Act_ Mr Q. H. Poole (Auckland West) announced his intention to ask the Prime Minister Whether he was aware that the price of land was becoming almost prohibitive for settlement by soldiers and civilians, and Whether-,th'e GoVel’lllrlellt would take steps to "put a. st_Qp to pprofiteering in land. (“The prices asked (lie stated) were absurdly .higher than the Government valuaVtiofns. ‘__s'' A_ _A _. ;‘z w “ Mr G. J;«‘Andel-son (Mataura) will ask the Prime Minister Whether the ;_Government iiitengls. to make. use of any compulsory powers it may possess tu acquire large estates for soldier settlement. Mr J. Vigor Brown (Napier) gave notice of his intention to move ne~>:t sitting day to amend the Discharged Soldiers ’Settlcnlent Act, (1) so that’ ‘no interest shall be payable for tho first year after occupation of the land; Land (2) so that the interest for the ‘second year shall ‘be 2; per cent.; for lthe third year 3% per cent.; for the ‘fourth year, 4 per cent; and for the ififth year, 43; per cent_