SETTLING SOLDIERS ON THE LAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1915, Page 6

SETTLING SOLDIERS ON THE LAND.

MR. G. P. DONNELLY'S SCHEME. In a letter to the patriotic meeting at Hastings to centralise the Hawke's Bay Patriotic Funds, Mr. G. P. Donnelly wrote: "My scheme has already been outlined through a precis communicated by the Prime Minister through the Press Association, and from the correspondence which will be laid before you. It will be seen that the Government heartily sympathise with the proposal to place returning soldiers on the land, and with that object in view have already earmarked a quarter of a million acres for their exclusive use. If the Minister of Lands can be informed of further suitable blocks, the Land Purchase Board will be instructed to report with, a view to acquisition. The Government recognise, as I myself do, that the comfort and well-being of our returning soldiers depends upon settling all who so desire upon the land in suitable areas and localities with the least possible delay, where they can be assisted with money, stock, and other contributions, and thus be enabled to carve out homes for themselves; that special cases will require special treatment; that spasmodic or indiscriminate gifts of money alone will not assist the desired end which we all have so much at heart, but rather tend to keep them in the towns. The knowledge that the Dominion is fully determined to make adequate provision for our gallant lads and show its gratitude in a practical manner will be a great encouragement to those who have suffered so much on our behalf. The Government have assured me that all temporary relief required by the men at home is being provided for. All funds, therefore, now in hand or to be collected, should be ear-marked for providing for the permanent welfare of our soldiers. With this object in view I trust the meeting will co-operate with tlte Government in carrying out the scheme for land settlement with such modifications as may be considered advisable to ensure to our soldiers independency and a stake in the country, for which they have risked much, and thus eventually relieve the. State through our soldiers becoming independent settlers, as so many have already done under various Land Settlement Acts."