SOLDIERS ON THE LAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1921, Page 6

SOLDIERS ON THE LAND.

SHOULD SETTLEMENT STOP? FARMERS DISCUSS POSITION. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Jan. 25. A proposal that the settlement of soldiers en the land should be suspended in view of the unsettled state of the markkets and the possibility of land falling in price was before the Dominion Executive of the Farmers’ Union to-day. The remit, which came from Dannevirke, urged that if the purchase of land for the soldiers was delayed they .would be more likely to get their land and stock at reasonable prices, in keeping with what was likely to be received for produce in the future. Mr. J. Livingstone (Southern Hawke’s Bay) said that <the financial situation did not warrant the country going on with the settlement scheme at the present time. The Government was mopping up the money required to finance the farmers’ products, and in this way was accentuating the difficulties created by the fall in the market prices and the growing scarcity of money. He contended that in the interests of the soldiers themselves it would be well to call a pause. Alen were being placed on land at prices that would hamper them severely if the value of products remained at a lower level than had been experienced in recent years. Mr. Hugh Morrison (Wairarapa) said that in view of the unsatisfactory markets no man in New Zealand could be expected to value, land to-day. Was there any man in the room who would buy land for himself? (Voices: No.) Well, then they should not ask soldiers to buy it. Another point was that many soldiers settled on land at boom prices were now up against a stiff proposition. He suggested, that the £6,000,000 now being raised by the Government for soldier settlement, should be held in reserve to assist those men already on the land. Many of these men might “lose out” if not afforded seme further measure of assistance. Mr. Alorrison suggested that members of the Executive should interview the Alinister for Lands on the subject. Mr. G. L. Marshall (Wellington) stated that at its last meeting the executive had pledged itself to find all the land that it could for returned soldiers. It should be made clear that any postponement was merely a temporary measure. It was cruel to put a man on the land under present conditions with only £750 and expect him to pull through. The chairman: Is not the. Government fully seized of the position? Mr. Marshall: I saw in the paper only the other day that the Government had bought two farms in one of the most expensive districts in New Zealand, probably at £l5O per acre. The chairman thought that many returned soldiers would not understand the motive that lav behind the motion.

Air. J. H. Joll (Hawke’s Bay) said that in consequence of the slump prices had already dropped, so that men going on the land were not involved in so much initial expense. Air. Livingstone: But have we reached bedrock j)et Air. Joll: Yes, we have as regards wool. After some further discussion the motion was lost on the voices.