ALIENS ON THE BEST LAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1918, Page 7

ALIENS ON THE BEST LAND.

WEED-INFESTED LAND FOR ' SOLDIERS. DISCUSSION W THE EGMONT OOUiNTV COUNCILWoine strong remarks were made at the meeting of the Egmont County Council on Tuesday regarding the inroads made by aliens into some of the best dairying country in Taranaki, whilst weed-infested land is being purchased for returned soldiers. The subject was introduced by a letter from the Whangarei County Council, stating that a deputation had waited on them, asking that some action should be taken in order to prevent the poorer classes of land being offered to returned soldiers, and suggesting that other councils should be asked to co-operate in asking the Commissioner of Crown Lands to supply particulars as to situation of lands set apart for settlement by returned soldiers, so that inquiry could be made by men acquainted with local conditions as to whether such lands were suitable for the <purpose. The Whangarei County Council had agreed to accede to the request. The chairman said the land the Government was purchasing in this district for returned soldiers was full of blackberry, Californian thistle, gorse, and oxeye daisy, He was leasing Borne of the sections, and considered that returned soldiers would be better in gaol than on the sections, as they would at least obtain three meals a day under the latter conditions. It was disgraceful that men should purchase such lands for returned soldiers, who, perhaps, might get on if the Government allowed them 12s <!d per, day for grubbing the noxious weeds. Aliens were purchasing the best land in Taranaki, whilst men who had gone and fought for us were expected to be satisfled with weed-infested land, as were the! four sections that the Government had purchased in the Parihaka block. Cr. Holder thought the council should seriously take up the question of the aliens taking up the land and ascertain what could be done in .the matter. He suggested that they should set up a committee to go into the matter, so as to endeavor to prevent aliens obtaining the land and give returned soldiers a fair chance to get back on the land.

The chairman: The "overnnient deny that the aliens are taking up the land, but that is all bunkum. Cr. Green asked whether it was not a fact that in the majority of cases the aliens had not purchased the land, but had either leased it or were milking on shares- He blamed the landowners who were rushing to employ aliens because they could squeeze a little more work out. of them. Cr. O'Brien: Some farmers would take the Kaiser! Cr. Green: They would take the devil. Continuing, Cr. Green stated that he understood that the Government would not transfer land to aliens, but this was overcome by the aliens leasing with a purchasing clauseOn the motion of Crs, Cornish and O'Brien, it was resolved to endorse the action of the Whangarei Copty Council. The chairman moved that the attention of the Government be drawn to the fact that aliens are getting the pick of the land, and that the Government are buying weed-infested land for the returned soldiers, and that they be asked to give their best attention to the matter. Cr O'Brien secondedCr. Green said that he was up against the men who put these .aliens on as share-milkers and so put them on their legs. Cr. O'Brien said that the Swiss lived on calves and skim milk. The chairman said that they came out on top. Cr Holder said that he did not object to let these aliens live, but he objected to them taking the best land. The resolution was carried.