SETTLING RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1919, Page 6

SETTLING RETURNED SOLDIERS.

ON THE LAND. DEPUTATION TO FARMERS' UNION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. A deputation of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association waited on the Farmers' Union Conference to-day for the purpose of discussing the question of settling soldiers on the land. Mr. Seymour, general secretary of the association, said the present machinery was too slow, not working well, and quite inadequate, and now that so many men were returning the soldiers could not be provided with land. The Government's reply that it had plenty of land was not true. There wag a suspicion that the Government wanted to unload some unsuitable land upon the soldiers before it acquired any more. The association was gratified to see that tile Farmers' Union favored the appointment of a committee of advice, a committee of farmers prepared to render all the assistance possible to the returned men. Colonel G. S. Mitchell, organiser of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association, said the association felt there was some danger in placing soldiers on highly-priced fully-developed land. He outlined the association's scheme for settling soldiers on' large blocks of undeveloped land, and asserted that increased production was the key of the situation as far as New Zealand was concerned. Mr. W. B. Mathieson (Wellington district), a member of the union, congratulated the association on its practical scheme, and other speakers expressed themselves to the same effect. •Mr. D. James (North Canterbury! moved "That this conference is in full sympathy with the returned soldiers in the desire to get upon the land, and is prepared actively to assist their association in its efforts to secure undeveloped land." Mr. J. H. Joll (Hawke's Bayl seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously, and three cheers were given for the returned Boldiers.