SOLDIERS ON THE LAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1917, Page 2

SOLDIERS ON THE LAND.

DISCUSSION' BY WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION. , The question of• Bottling soldiers on this land formed the subject of discussion at the annual meeting of the War Relief Association at Stratford on Wednesday. The matter was introduced in the annual report which stated that the question of soldiers on the land lias 'been beforo tho executive practically since the incorporation of the Association. Its importance, has always been recognised, and notwithstanding' considerable opposition from practically all quarters, including other incorporated patriotic bodies, the combined efforts and representations of your executive at present show every prospect of materially causing improvement in not only tho financial conditions, hut class of land to be offered to .returned discharged soldiers. The executive revises that a largo proportion of the men enlisted from Taranaki district were either dir'ectly or indirectly connected 'with farming, and that it would be in their interest if some of tho best land in the district was acquired by the Government and converted into small farms for soldier settlers. Representations to this effect was made to the Government on more than one occasion, hut it appears that the liigli price prevailing for firstclass land in Taranaki has precluded any purchase by the Government for the purpose previously indicated. , Although land in Taranaki: is high priced, it is freely admitted that the price is not in excess of tho value, and, furthermore, that the return from this high price land I is such as to place it, from a business standpoint, in a proportionately better position than cheaper land in other districts. Particulars regarding suitable lands and owners have been acquired and forwarded to the Minister of Lands, but in all cases the result has been ineffectual owing to the high prices. From a financial standpoint, the Ass»ciation could never expect to acquire land for returned men, 'but the executive have never allowed themselves to be daunted by this fact. It must be admitted that the more men that can be induced to go on the land the better for the country generally, and furthermore, the State, by assisting has everything to gain and nothing to lose, because in their case all moneys advanced are repayable with interest. Tho argument has been raised that the financial undertaking was too great for the State to assume. This was in reply to recent representations when the necessity of increasing tho maximum Government grant from £SOO to £IOOO was urged, but it should bo borne' in mindjthat the Government has allocated £IOO,OOO with a maximum 'grant of £500; therefore, if the maximum be raised to £IOOO, the allocation would also require to be raised by £200,000.

Tho Association last December forwarded a remit to the Advisory Board urging that representation he made to the Government in the matter "of increasing the maximum grant from £SOO to £IOOO. Tho recommendation was ably maintained by Mr Kirkwood atithe Advisory Board meeting in February, and resulted in favorable comment in the press, which has had the desired effect of causing other bodies to throw off their apathy to this important question.

Mr. W. P. Kirkwood (Stratford) snid that tho Association.had given considerable attention to this. The men who were placed on the land should be given every assistance. Though the Association's efforts to have the maximum amount granted by &ie Government increased from £SOO to £IOOO were not sympathetically received, at the outset, yet, largely as tho result of this Asso'ciation's representations, a special lands' committee had been set up by the Advisory Board. Mr. R. J. Dunn said that so far the representations of tho Association had not received much recognition, but be did not intend to give up tho agitation. The Government should endeavor to acquire land in each patriotic district and settle the returned soldier on land whore he was acquainted with the position. It was only right and proper that the soldier should be placed in land in his own district if possible. He hoped their representatives in Parliament would not lose sight of tl)is. Mr. Wilkinson was interesting himself and had given the Government particulars of a place, near Kaponga. If all their representatives would act in this way something might be done. He favored

tho maximum grant given by the Government being increased. Ho did not sec why the Association should have to augment the Government grant so as to enable the men to make lise of the land. The Association's funds were needed to help needy eases, and the Government should recognise its responsibility when Hi placed men on the land. Mr. T. McPhillips (Mannial said that the Government maintained that land in Taranaki was too dear. It might appear too dear, but it would prove cheaper than land at half the price. Tf they wished to make the men contended and revenue producers they sbquld place them on small areas of-first class land. The ba&blocks was not the place for men with shattered nerves. At the present time there was a ('''■ contended section throiiQ'hout the <\ver '; awl they did not want these men to join that discontondod lot. No man was more deserving of a first-class section of land than the men who had, gone-. inU the jaws of

death to preserve that land. It was the duty of those left to see that they, were placed on good land and mil "i the backblocks, where' they had not sufficient capital to 'work and where the land was not suitable for men of shattered nerves. The Government said that they had not the money to purchase this land, but ho ventured to say that if the Government went to the country-for a loan for this purpose they would get it. He did not think there was any one.with money that would not lend half of it. If ho did not he would not be doing his duty. What would tho land lie worth if the Germans had won? It was a big question, buj; should be faced. Xol' one Taranaki man, he concluded, had been settled on Taranaki land and it was a great shame to see them leave the district. He thought these men could be settled in Taranaki if people with large holdings could 'offer portions to the Govvernraent for returned men.