LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1917, Page 3

LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

At the annual meeting of the *Tew Plymouth Patriotic Association on Friday night Mr. D. J. Hughea asked whether enquiries of the Taranaki War Relief Association for soldiers' land warranted the offering of more land in Taranaki at the present time. Mr. C. E. Bellringer said that this was best answered by the number of applicants for the sections in the Parke's estates, in some instances thirty or more. Mr. Hughes stressed the point that much of the land offered to returned men by the Government was unsuitable. Wounded or ailing men were not fit to go through the hardships of pioneer work and to carry on in virgin land. Between New Plymouth .and Urenui and in the Warea district there were hundreds of acres of native-owned land that might be acquired for this purpose. At the present time this land was being bought up from the Maoris by private exploiters at the Government valuation, and the increment over the auction value of these lands went into their pockets. The same sort of thing was being done all over Tarana-ki. Exploiters should not be allowed to reap this benefit. The War Relief Association should acquire the land for soldiers, who were entitled to the benefit.*

Mr. Bellringer said that the function of the Association was to help returned men on to the land and in other ways, instead of putting the funds at deposit. Every case was considered on its merits and the interest payable depended upon an applicant's position. The Taranaki Association, he added, was doing more in this way than most of the other associations.