The Daily News. FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1916. LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1916. LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Although the Government has not, up to tho present, received very many applications for land by returned soldiers, the time has arrived when it may be expected that the scheme will be more generally utilised. In tnc course of a recent interview, Mr. Massey made some very satisfactory remarks relative to this matter, and declared that if there was no land available in any provincial district where it was required for returned soldiers, he was prepared to purchase suitable blocks. This statement will go far to make the scheme effective, for unless suitable land is purchased the scheme must inevitably be a failure. The position now is decidedly good from the returned soldiers point of view, for not only has ho uie promise of the Prime Minister that land will be available, but there is the further safeguard that it is impossible now for a single man of military age, who lias not enlisted, to take up Crown land. The quantity of land already set apart for discharged soldiers is 4d5,000 acres, suitable for all kinds of .farming, from poultry rearing to a sheep farm, and including land for oTchards. The very worthy object which tho Government has in view is to afford our gallant soldiers, when discharged from military service, the chance of making a comfortable living out of the land, and it would seem that oven those who were partially incapacitated and in receipt of pensions should be able to do well on being placed on a holding not beyond their capacity to work to advantage. The conditions of tenancy arc favorable and to some extent elastic, but it will l probably be necessary to organise seme system of instruction, though there should be no difficulty in so doing. Moreover, the State has arranged for financial assistance to be available where needed. The Premier considers that (üßtrict committees may be relied upon to help the soldier farmers in preparing and working their land, «nd there is no doubt that such assistance will be readily and cheerfully given. In New South \Valea, several wealthy men have oifered to land generous aid to the Government in placing discharged soldiers on the land, and this excellent example might well be copied in New Zealand. In all probability there will be an influx of discharged British soldiers seeking for land whereon to make a living, and some provision might well be made for them. Sir H. Eider Haggard lias undertaken to visit the Dominions with a view to seeing what can be done in this direction, and it may be assumed that his errand will not be in vain. Both the Government and the people of New Zealand may be relied upon to do their best for those who have so bravely faced the dangers ami hardships of the war, and secure for them a field of work that, offers fair prospects of earning a good competence under satisfactory conditions. Those who make good use of the opportunity will add to the prosperity of the Dominion, but those who abuse the privileges provided for them will naturally have to give way to better men.

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that of the self-seeking politicians and jaundiced pres.? of tho -Motherland, while it should 1 act as a stimulus to maintain and, u possible, to enhance their high standard of action, and to set an example to the selfish croakers and critics who have done so much to impede the British Government. There never ivas a period like this through which the Empire is now passing, and its demands 011 the patience, courage, helpful co-operation and self-sacrifice of all the people within the Empire should le fully recognised. The action of Lord Miitier in generously acknowledging the lofty ideals and patriotic services of the. Dominions strikes a chord which will find a responsive echo iu every part of the Empire.