The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1919. LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1919. LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

The discussion which took place on Wednesday iirthe House of Representatives over the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Lofuis Bill has once more given prominence to the problem of land for soldiers. The position at present is unsatisfactory, for it has led to an inflation in prices that has made purchases of land for soldier settlement almost impossible if the men are to make a comfortable living. In the 1918 Official Year Book it is stated, under the heading of Land for Settlements: "The operations of the Department have been entirely confined to the purchase of land for discharged soldiers. The number of properties considered was 499, of an area of 451,935 acres. This is very much below the previous year. The properties were widely distributed, none being of any great extent. . . . The prices asked in several instances were nearly double the taxation value." The Hon. Geo. Russell, when speaking in the debate on WedaaeatiQiied aa estate, ia

the Manawatu district, of 472 acres which was purchased at £IO,OOO mofe than it stood at ill the Government's books, adding: "The fact is that the Land Purchase Department has been carried off its feet by the high prices ruling for butter-fat, and land has been purchased without paying the slightest regard to the figures in the possession of the Valuation Department." The only excuse that the Hon. D. H. Guthrie could make in reply, was that "if the Government were purchasing land at too high a price, they were doing so under the very best advice obtainable." The time has arrived for reviewing our whole land policy and adjusting it to meet present exceptional needs. In the earlier years of the settlement of the Dominion big areas were sold a.t, low rates. It was necessary to have the country settled, improved and made productive. The owners have done well, and so Jim the country out of their industry and enterprise. The owners deserve the competence and wealth with which they have been rewarded. But times have changed, especially since the war. There is an unsatisfied demand for land by "nr returning men. It is no use .■ .ti ing them on tli.e poor, backblocks land. They are mostly inexperienced, many of them have had their health impaired, and, anyhow, they are deserving of the best land in the country. To buy up' the small, highly improved farms at present prices is only adding to the inflation that is already so much in evidence. Why not legislate so tliat in future no one man can hold more private land than he can hold Crown laud? In the case of the disposal of Crown lands no rural section may be larger than 666 acres of first-class land, 2000 acres of second class land or 5000 acres of tliird-class land. Surely that is sufficient land for the most enterprising farmer to hold and do justice to. But even if it is not, tlie time lias come when in the interests of settlement and the country he sliould not be permitted to hold more. The graduated land taxation has not had the desired result of bursting up the big estates. To-day wealtliy landowners in, many districts are adding to their .estates, not reducing them. Why should Taranaki boys who have fought and suffered for the retention of the fee simple of these lands, be forced into takirig up second and third-class lauds in the backbloeks or in other parts of the Dominion when between Hawera and Wang'anui there are huge areas of country held by a few men, who have-no need to put them to the fullest productive use? Where one farmer is Jiving on the land there is room, in some cases we have in mind, for forty and fifty ex-soldiers. The Governments of the past, for some reason or other, liave been afraid to tackle this land monopoly problem with the necessary boldness and thoroughness. Hence to-day we find a scarcity of land available for settlement in the midst of plenty, and prices jumping in stich a way as to make it almost impossible for an ex-soldier to purchase first-class land and make a do of it. Only inferior land is available in any quantity. It is a wellknown fact that inferior land keeps the occupiers poor, but good land in limited areas spells comfort and a greater output. Under present conditions the State is manually losing vast sums by way of revenue and taxation. It is worthy of note that the Member for Patea favors soldiers being settled on unoccupied Crown lands, and it is conceivable that other large landowners sliould take the same view, but the problem is not to be solved in this way, though it will help in a measure. It has now become necessary to enter upon reconstruction as a national duty, and the time has arrived to break up land monopolies as being injurious to' the welfare of the State, and an impediment to the solution of one of the most urgent problems of the day. Vested interests are always a serious stumbling block to progress. We have to look to the pressing needs of the time and make provision accordingly if the State is "to secure increased population with its corollary of increased production. The large landowners have liad a good time in the sun, and it is now the turn of the smaller men to have their chance on fair terms, and it is to be hoped that the new Parliament will be dominated hymen of strong backbone, animated by the desire and intention to put an end to the existing land-owping evils, and having the courage to put their convictions into practice without fear or favor. Nothing but a bold and courageous land policy will meet requirements. The country willingly shoulders the burden of land purchase, but it is imperative there shall be an end to land exploitation and inflation. Mr. Guthrie says that over 400 returned men have already been assisted to get on tlie land. What about the thousands who are still landless ?