LAND FOR DISCHARGED SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1915, Page 8

LAND FOR DISCHARGED SOLDIERS.

Under the Act of last session to make provision for the settlement of discharged soldiers, the Governor is authorised to set apart areas of land for selection by discharged soldiers, the land to be subdivided by the Land Board, with the approval of the Minister of Lands, applications therefor being addressed to the Land Board. Applicants have to supply information on a number of points as to their service, discharge, physical disability, the purpose for which the land is to be used, applicant's experience in the business for which it is proposed to use the land, or in any other class of farming, capital available, and the evtent and nature of assistance required for the successful working of the land, such as clearing, fencing, draining, general improvements, erection of buildings, purchase of implements, stock, seeds, plants, trees ,etc. Money so advanced is to bear interest, but the Minister is empowered, if he thinks fit, in any case of hardship to dispense, wholly or partially with payment of interest. Provision is also made for remission or postponement of rent. It is also enacted that no land leased or sold to a discharged soldier can be transferred until after ten years of the commencement of the holding, except with the consent of the Minister and of the Land Board.

There does not appear to be any limitation of area to be held under the Act, but the general impression is that the areas are intended to be small, as a rule, such as will serve for poultry farming, fruit culture, bee-keeping, and possibly dairying on a small scale. In Taranaki, although there is a large area of Crown land still unsettled, it is mostly of too rough a nature to be suitable for any but robust selectors. There are a few patches here and there that could be utilised for the class of men provided for in the Act, but it is hardly likely unless land is purchased by the Government specially for this purpose in Taranaki, that the province will contain many of these settlers. In other parts of the Dominion there are amply sufficient and suitable areas to meet all requirements, so that the scheme will have every chance of success. The Prime Minister recently stated that very few applications for land from returned soldiers have yet reached the Government; but that the matter was receiving the attention of the Lands Department and the cases would be dealt with as they arose. He did not think that any general rale could be laid down, since the requirements of the 11*11 varied. The demand for land for the soldiers would probably not become heavy until the war had ended, and the men who had not been invalided began to arrive hack in the Dominion. j

Among the land wlrch is being set aside for returned soldiers is a part'of the Hall Jones Settlement in the Hntt Valley. This block was intended originally as a site for workers' dwellings, but it was found to be unsuitable for that purpose. It will provide a number of excellent small farms for fruit, poultry, or market-gardening. The Minister for Unds lias considered other areas in the Hutt Valley, as well as blocks in various parts of the Dominion. Now that the flow of invalided and discharged soldiers returning to New Zealand has set in this question of land settlement has to be faced in earnest, although it will not be till after the close of the war that the full extent of the amount required will be known. The svneral idea i- an excellent one. and if the details are sympathetically treated I lie scheme should prove a boon to many of our heroes whose gallant services have resulted in their being incapacitated from strenuous work. It should also prove of good service in adding to the producing power and prosperity of the country.