SOLDIERS ON LAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1918, Page 7

SOLDIERS ON LAND.

A REPORT ON THE PA RICKS SETTLEMENT. At a meeting of the executive of the, Taranaki War Relief Associatiou . i*t Stratford on Wednesday, there-was an interesting discussion regarding soldiers placed on the land on the Parkes Settlement. The sub-committee set up to visit the Parkes Settlement reported that they found the land suitable for settlement by soldiers, and were favorably impressed by the class of men who had selected the land There had been difficulty about getting the Government to advance money to buy milking machines, but the arrangements had been made in the matter. They recommended that the domicile clause should bo modified, so that any soldier who took up land in.the Association's district should be regarded as domiciled in the district,for the purposes of loans. The holdings on the settlement varied in area from 50 to GO. acres, and the value of the land, wass £35 10s to £39 After seeing the settlers, the committee formed the opinion that the cost of equipping and stocking a section was £looo—house £250, shed £75, herd of 30 head £IOO, milking machine £IBO, sundries £S»., Mr. Washer asked if tlio settlers were experienced farmers. Mr Stevenson said some were and some were not. The settlement was good land at a low price, and anybody should be able to make a living. If the settlers got the necessary finance they should succeed. Mr. Washer questioned if milking machines were absolutely necessary. Mr. Stevenson said all the settlers hail been wounded in some way or other. One isan, for instance, had a withered arm .and he could not milk by liand. Mr. Washer asked if it would not bo better for settlers to start milking fifteen cows by hand, and as they "made geod" they could increase their herds and get machines. Mr. Stevenson said one of the settlers was an old man, who had to understate his age in order to get away. On poor land he might not make a living, but on the Parkes Settlement he should make a good living Mr. Mills said he left the last meeting inclined to regard milking machines as not really necessary, but since visiting the settlement he had changed his mind. The report was received and tha members of the sub-committee were thanked for their work. It was decided to recommend to the Advisory Board that the financing conditions be improved: (1) By capitalising the cost of new houses and sheds and other new necessarv improvements (such as fencing), and either adding value to purchase value of land or collecting tl ■ with interest by half-yearly instalments, thus leaving the loan limit available for stocking and equipping the farm; (2) t>y iiwasim; the Government's loan l'mlt. to CI 000; or (3) by eliminating the condi-. tion contained in the form of chattel security to the Government, whereby the selector charges to the Crowy, future, acquired chattels on this holding or any other land. Two men on the Parkes Settlement npplied for advances from the Assoei.v tinn in respect of milkim* machines. In one case the machine was included .in the man's security to the Government, while the other was secured to a private firm. ' Mr. Crump said that m the first case