SOLDIERS AND THE LAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1919, Page 12

SOLDIERS AND THE LAND.

| , A-NEW SCHEME. During the Conference of Returned Soldiers' Associations lately held in Chrislchurch, special attention was paid to a new scheme for settling soldiers on the land. The idea of a constructive policy, we are told, first arose from discussion by the Hawera Association, but its development was the work of representatives from other districts. The soldiers have not been satisfied with the working of the Government land policy us it alfects the returned men, and lead- j ing men among them have set out what I they consider would be a more satisfactory scheme. The intention of their , proposals, which were accepted at; the j conference, is "to cure delays in land administration by taking the matter of settling returned Eoldiers upon the land, so far as possible, out of the control of the Department of Lands and of the Laud Boards." It is the soldiers' intention to ask the Crown to give extended | authority to Repatriation Land Com: i mittees. ■Each committee is to have its '■ own district, and, as far as possible, the existing Repatriation Committee districts are to be adopted. Each committee is to consist of three members, one to be appointed by the Governor-in-Council, one by the N.Z.R.S.A., and one by an A. and P. Association, to be nominated by the Governor- in-Council. Shortly, the idea is to overcome the delay of which the present system is accused by substituting decentralised methods and utilising the special local knowledge of leading men in each district. The scheme provides that in the appointment of committees "regard shall be had to proved integrity, commercial ability, and expert knowledge," and the duties of these committees shall be to advise the Ministers of Repatriation upon:— (a) The value of any land proposed to be devoted to soldier settlement, such I value to be based upon the estimated productive capacity of the land.

(b) The suitability of such land, both from a general point of view, and in regard to the mental, physical, and other conditions of any particular applicant and his experience. (c) The best method of developing the full productive capacity of such land, (d) Either the acquisition of such land by the State for the purposes of the settlement of a returned soldier or soldiers, or financial assistance to a returned soldier or soldiers in acquiring or holding such land. And, further, that it shall be the duty of such committee to report at intervals of six months to lie Crown Lands Boards upon the condition of all lands with which it has been concerned and generally a 9 to the working thereof by tne soldiers thereon. Provision is also made for the State to give effect to the decision of the Repatriation Land Committees, and the following clause is very important to the scheme: "That purchase moneys be advanced by the State, not only on first mortgage, but also on second mortgage, or on joint first mortgage where desirable, but no Repatriation Land Committee shall bind the State to make any advance upon second mortgage except upon the advice of a Crown Solicitor or upon his written certificate that the terms and conditions of the ransaction (outside the matter of valuation) are, in his opinion, satisfactory, and subject in all cases to the power of veto by the Minister in Charge of Repatriation." The scheme provides that before a committee makes its recommendations it shall obtain a written dertifieate in duplicate from a solicitor that there is no defect of consequence in the vendor's title, and that the vendor has legal power to dispose of the property concerned.

Only in exceptional cases do the soldiers desire transactions to be referred to Land Boards, but "provided that after conclusion of a contract the administration of settled lands shall be in the hands of the Land Board or with in such other manner as shall be approved by the Ministers in Charge of Repatriation." Another clause urges upon Repatriation Ministers consideration of the extension of the provisions and functions of Repatriation Land Committees to the acquisition and development of flax, timber, coal, and other mineral areas—this plan to apply to such a case as that of half a dozen men desiring to acquire a timber area and work on it, also desiring to expend perhaps £2OOO upon the acquisition of the property and £IO,OOO upon the development of the commercial enterprise. Other clauses propose "that the functions and powers of the Crown Lands jßanger relating to the acquisition of stock and dealings therewith shall also Ibe exercisable by any member of a Repatriation Land Committee; that it shall be lawful for advances to be made for the purpose of stocking lands acquired or financed for returned soldiers up to the reasonable carrying capacity of the property, and also for the purpose of equipment with necessary implements, but in no case shall the amount of such advance exceed £12,50; that special provision be made for assisting returned soldier settlors upon unimproved lands to make necessary improvements." The proposals conclude with clauses governing the purchase prices jof suitable lands from vendors.