LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1917, Page 2

LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

"GREAT DEAL OF NOXSEXSE TALKED." (From Our Parliamentary Reporter). Wellington. Oct. IT. The Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Bill ,was passed by the Legislative Council 'to-day. Speaking on this Bill Sir Francis Bell said he thought a great deal of nonsense was being talked about the Jiglvt of the discharged soldiers to be plaee# upon improved lands with easy access. A certain proportion of the men wanted land of that class, but he was convinced the gTeat majority of the sol-'dier-settlers would prefer to go on to unimproved or partially improved land and reap for themselves the harvest of hard work. It was the deliberate policy of the Government not to proceed with the construction of roads and other improvements in advance of the settlement of lands to be occupied by soldiers. The men would be given the opportunity to do the work themselves for wages. Money for this purpose would be available when the war was over and the work would help to absorb the returned men during the period of demobilisation. Sir Francis ridiculed the suggestion that all the men were coming back with broken health and shattered nerves. The mass of them would return after the war fitter than they were before they enlisted.