LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 June 1918, Page 5

LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

FARMERS? .VIEWS. (Prom Our Own Correspondent.): Wellington, May 30. It was only right and proper,, <h course, that the delegates attending ! the Wellington 'Provincial Conference oi the Farmers' Union should express their opinions of the Government's efforts tc settle returned soldiers on the land, but some of them seem to have spokon a little precipitately and with a very scanty knowledge of the facta. It is quite true that in the neighbourhood of Marton, there aro one or two examples of men having been placed on land unauited to their capacity and their capital, but these are exceptional cases, and it would be unfair to accept them as typical of the class of settlement that is being promoted hy the Government. In the Wellington land District, in particular, the utmoit care has beeen taken by the Under-gecre-tary and his Commissioner in the flection of both land and settlers, and the proportion of unsatisfactory caiti very small indeed. MODEST BEGINNINGS. But there was good sound bbm» in ths proposal submitted to the conference yesterday to the effect that re-' turned soldiers bent upon taking Up land should be encouraged to settl» on Small areas within easy distajioq of a market. The man with capital and experience, or with friends tli&t stand foi both of these qualifications, if h<9 e«eka assistance from the Government all. may bo trusted to manage a small tag run any similar enterprise requiring a considerable amount _°' money; but to launch a man of scanty means and scantier experience upon an undertaking of this sort is simply to invite disappointment and failure, The Conference very wisely set up a" committee to report upon soldiers' settlement, and it will be a pity if it Is Te ' strained by anv false diffidence f r ou making very plain representations to the Government on the whole matter