MEN WHO SACRIFICED.

Taihape Daily Times, 24 September 1919, Page 5

MEN WHO SACRIFICED.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE FOR THEM! WELLINGON, Sept.’ 23. ° . Sir Joseph Ward pointed ou-t «that; z‘ many of oul' soldiers had been-coln~ ' pulled to sell -the farms they had been occupying before the war, in order “that they might go away and fight for their country. In the me-axitime the value of those farms had risen considerably, and now these soldiers had: come back they found it impossible to: get. their old farms back again, uhless they paid galn:\en;o~rm~o»usl_v fenhanded price. Heasked the Premier to say . whether, under the circumstances, he’ did not think drastic legislation should be introduced to compulsorily resume; those farms in the interests of the re<. turned soldiers. The men who bought those farms should be regarded merely; as trustees They should be paid for: iinprnvements, with interest on capi« tal imleated. They might even be ah lowed 5 per cent on the purchase price,-_ but from letters he had received, ha was convinced something should be done; and’ he was prepared to support} any drastic legislation to do it. 3

Downie Stewart: ‘What about thcz-3 man who sold his business? ;

Sir Joseph Ward said it was pos< sibl'e there were such cases where assist; ance should be given. 5 Mr Mavésey said he had been faking the opin_i‘on -of the S-olicitor—Gene.ra] on the point, which "as difficult cfl se~‘.tlement_ because ti re was no preccdent to guide them. He hoped to be‘ able to report later can, but in tbei

m<2antim’e he quit-2 :.gl*e~3<i that nothing unfair should Se done to the men who

had gone away. ‘ The Hon. Hanntm said the matier;

opened up an exfreniely wide question.‘ one that went far beyond the man who had a fsarm or business. The Hon. Guthrie explained tha.i:' steps had been Ataken in the early stage‘s of the war to prevent soldiers selling farms by appointing trustees, but, like many fine ‘theories it. ‘had been found not to work out well in practice. On the motion of Mr Massey, ‘the In~ dustries Committee was reinstated. as their work was not completed. He (113 not propose to send them over the_ country again. 3