SOLDIERS ON THE LAND.
.MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. Replying to Mr. W. P. Kirkwood, chairman of the Taranaki War Relief Association, at Stratford on Monday evening, the Minister of Lands stated that the Department were prepared to spend £2500 in purchasing property for a soldier, and, in addition, advanced £SOO for stock, improvements, etc. and in special cases £750. On bush sections they advanced up to £1250. The idea was to give a soldier a start, and it depended on his personal effort to make good. The Government were making an honest endeavor to give every returned soldier a start. They would not put maimed or gassed soldiers on backblocks land. They had some backblocks land which they were roading and holding until the fit and well returned. He preferred to put these on that land because though they might have a few years' privations, yet the man who took up virgin land had a better chance of doing well for himself than the man who only took up as much improved land as he could work. They showed the greatest leniency to soldiers. If they could not pay the rent after three years it was either remitted, added tp capital value or accepted in instalments. To interfere with th© ballot would open' the door to trouble, though to select men would be to reduce the chance of failure. They had, however, promised to give every returned soldier a chance and would do so ,
Mr. Jennings referred to the delay in men obtaining land.
Hon. Mr Guthrie said that this could not be abated. He had now suggested to soldiers that they should obtain three months' option on land. With regard to transfer of house property, the Land Board had discretionary power to permit ihis fro® one soldier to another.
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Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1919, Page 2
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298SOLDIERS ON THE LAND. Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1919, Page 2
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