SOLDIER SETTLERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 January 1918, Page 5

SOLDIER SETTLERS.

ABOUT 600 ALREADY ON THE LAND. FIRST ANNCAL REPORT OF A SETTLEMENT. ''Up till 'December 31 last," stated the Right Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime Minister and Minister for Lands) to a Times representative, ,; we had settled about <K)O soldier-settlers on the land." One of the first of the soklier-settlementa, added Mr. Mltesey, the Lamont Settlement, comprising 745 acres of first-class land, about thirteen miles from 'lnvercargill, which was subdivided into five sections and thrown open for selection by discharged soldier* in December, 1910. The first annual report du the settlement, which had just come to hand, stated 'that one section was still unseleeted, but the lessees on tile remaining four sections are a good type of settler, having fanning experience and being willing workers. All the tenants ate showing themselves dapablo farmers, and the settlement promised to prove very successful. Each lessee was looking forward to paying off liis mortgnge to the Crown, in the near future. Two of the tenants had agreed to lake a portion each of the section not yet selected. Appreciation was expressed at the action of farmerg near the settlement in assisting the soldier-settlers by selling them stock under its value, and 'making them a present of seed oats and potatoes, in some cases stock, and giving thorn the use of any implements they desired.