LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1917, Page 7

LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT ARB • DOING. SPEECH BY SIR JAMES ALLELV. Dunedin, May 28. At the Conference of Returned Sol: d'ers Associations, Sir James Allen outlined the policy of the Government with regard to the settlement of returned soldiers in to civil life. He said the area ot private land purchased for discharged soldiers' settlement was 00,852 acres; the area of Crown land set aside by proclamation for discharged soldiers was 204,390 acres; and other blocks of private land were now under negotiation, and other areas of Crown lands were being considered for proclamation. But the supply had been in excess of the demand. The number of returned soldiers who had been settled so far was 357, and 2315 had obtained Government advances to enable them to do fencing, purchase stock, and make other improvements. There had been practically no complaints, either of suitable land not being open for choice or of treatment by the Government in respect of advances. The present statutory limit of Government advance of £SOO had been the subject of some comment, but obviously there must be some such limit to avoid excessive differentiation of the best class of young New Zealanden A considerable proportion of the men prefer pastoral to dairy land, and ask for land which they can improve and so increase the capital value of their holding. Plans fof seriously wounded soldiers included the provision of fruit farms and poultry farms near railways and towns, 1 , where men can occupy small areas of first-class land together or separately. Some such areas were already available to supply any demand. Opportunity of tuition will be provided in such special areas. THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS. The Government proposed to provide for the opening of Crown lands for discharged soldiers in districts sparsely settled, with really good roads, the expense being far less than that of acquiring and roading private lands. Soldiers will thus have an opportunity \)f earning wages in road construction, while improving their own allotments. The idea that the Government should acquire and survey into subdivisions and road enough land to provide for the return of the Main Body was erroneous. Apart from the present scarcity of labor, if land was really good and improved it must be settled soon after acquisition or

it would speedily deteriorate. "Wo have already considerable areas of dairy land for which there is no present demand, and which wo have endeavored to let for grazing at low rentals to prevent it going 'back. This applies specially to the acquisition of private estates, which for that reason we desire to acquire as the demand arises and not to keep till the end of the war. As to Crown land, we desire to let expenditure take place when we have soldiers to do the work, instead of spending while labor is short. Officers of the head office of the Lands department and the Commissioner of Crown Lands have been most diligent in the matter of > returned soldiers and given every assistance to soldiers and

Uie Government. As to pastoral runs in Canterbury and Otago, the Government decided that returned soldiers who might desired to take up runs should have at least equal opportunity with the people left in the Dominion. Therefore they had directed that runs which have been submitted for competition in February. MlB, shall not be so submitted, until 11)1!), and not then unless the war is over and the Main Body have returned. At present there is no provision enabling the Government' to make special advances to enable a soldier to acquire for himself private land and stock it. This is under consideration in amendments t() be proposed this session." COST OP I/AND TO SOLDIEBS. Proceeding, Sir James Allen said the association had asked Sir Francis Bell for particulars as to payments made by thoGovernraent for land to be kept open for settlement and the market value of the land before and after subdivision, and also the cost of laud to returned soldiers. Sir IFva-noia VjM replied that these questions could only be answered by pointing out that the Government purchased different classes of land at prices widely differing, according to! the class, and that they 'bought- at the market value. Large areas of Crown land were available for which nothing was paid. As to the cost of land to returned soldiers, the amount charged was 5 per cent, upon the cost price, phis the cost , df roading and subdivision. The assoria- ' tion also asked for a return showing the basis upon which the cost to Teturned ' soldiers was fixed, and the principles followed in deciding the fitness or otherwise of a soldier applicant. The answer to the first question was the same as the preceding answer as to the cost of land while the reply to the second question was that the Land Boards of the various districts determine the fitness of an applicant. In cases where the question of fitness arises land boards proceed on methods dictated by fairness and common sense and not on the hard and fast lineß prescribed by the head office. "On the question of land settlement they could only proceed step by step. The best policy was to acquire land as it was wanted, and he thought the Government would provide land for any soldiers who wanted it and who were capable of go- - ing on it with a reasonable prospect of succe'ss. .;»■

DEALING WITH SOLDIERS' BUSINESSES.

The question of maintaining businesses was more, difficult. The Government had asked the Efficiency Board to select trustees throughout New ZealanH but the policy had not developed far. He thought the businesses of men going away should be temporarily amalgamated with other businesses, or kept alive by trustees under control of the Efficiency Board. The question of providing new businesses for returned men was even more difficult. The Government were willing to spend money as far as possible, and these questions must be considered from a practical point of view. Technical Schools, accountancy schools, and State farms were open, to soldiers, and the Government had hoped betore this to have established a communal fruit land area. He believed the Government would adopt a similar policy with regard to all land. If it was deemed advisable to secure land and hold it communally and let soldiers get on to it and do tho initial work, lie believed the Government would be inclined to listen to any suggestions, but there did not seem to be any demand for it at present, and it was no use starting uatjl there was.