RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 October 1919, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

1 PURCHASE OF LAND. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. During the discussion on part 2 of the Land Committee's report, Mr Mitchell said the committee agreed that the price to be paid for any particular piece of land should be the value of that land in 1914, plus an increase at the same rate as the land had increased in value for the five years preceding 1914, and phis any improvements put on the land during that period. By adopting such a principle the country would secure a war-created value. The conference agreed to the principle expressed by Mr Mitchell, but decided to refer the matter back to the committee for a detailed report. Among the recommendations of the Land Committee adopted were the following:—That a land officer be appointed by the R.S.A. and. attached to headquarters to take in hand all matters pertaining to land settlement; that in all cases, where desirable and possible, stock should be acquired with estates; that, a3 a general principle, estate? should not be cut up into too small sections; that no rural land over the value of £7500 be transferable without the option of purchase being first given the Land Purchase Board, such option to be exerciised within thrfee months; ihat such land cannot be sold to anyone, other than the Government, for a period of two years after such options are given, at a lower price than that asked from the Government without the apr proval ctf the Land Purchase Board; that all land aggregated since January 1, 1915, may be compulsorily taken by the Government, at the price* paid by the aggregator, for settlement by soldiers. It was also decided to recommend that loans for building settlers' homes be fixed as follows:—Single men, £250; man and wife, [£4oO, and for each child £SO extra.