SOLDIER SETTLERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1921, Page 7

SOLDIER SETTLERS.

MEETING IN STRATFORD. DEALINGS WITH THE LAND BOARD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, June 28. A meeting of returned soldier settlers, convened by Mr. H. McGregor for the purpose of securing a soldier farmer representative on the Taranaki Land Board and an additional Crown lands ranger, was held in the Stratford Borough Council Chambers to-day. There was an attendance of about 30 soldier settlers, and members of the executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. An apology for absence was received from Mr. R. Masters, M.P. Mr. McGregor was voted to the chair.

The chairman said he believed a soldier settler representative on the Land Board would be of very material assistance to them all. His duties should be to represent the soldiers under the repatriation scheme on the Land Board, and to be in a position to communicate directly with the Minister of Lands on any urgent matter requiring attention. He should suggest to the authorities that an additional ranger be appointed to the Taranaki District. He should see that all stock purchased from firms 'be paid for with cash, and all outstanding stock accounts be paid by the department where possible. It should be his duty to see that, in cases where stock has been purchased and not paid for, the purchase money being to the credit of the purchaser at the time, the department pay the interest from the date of purchase to the date of payment. He (the chairman) suggested that, in the event of a soldier settler being appointed to the Land Board, he should visit the district a few days before each meeting of the board to receive complaints and suggestions from the settlers.

The suggestion of forming an association independent of the Returned Soldiers’ Association to forward these objects were not supported, members considering that their representations would carry much more weight if put forward in conjunction- with the Returned Soldiers’ Association.

Mr. Jago said it was advisable to work on constitutional lines, and do what they had to do with the sanction and support of the Returned Soldiers’ Association.

The matter of urgency was brought forward, one settler present saying that unless something was done immediately only a quarter of the soldiers would be left on the land.

Members of the executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association assured the meeting of the support of the aosociation, and expressed their willingness to call a special meeting to receive a representative deputation from the meeting to consider the administrative improvements suggested by the settlers. Mr. Young, president of the Stratford Returned; Soldiers’ Association, said his association had already moved in the direction of having an additional ranger appointed, as the present ranger had a very large district to cover, and suffered from disabilities which prevented him from getting about as was necessary. He said the. difficulty of getting into touch with the present ranger was due to the amount of work he had to do without adequate office assistance. The association had made representations ifi the matter to the Minister of Lands, who had replied that the supervisor of soldier settlements in New Plymouth was the person' to apply to in respect of any complaints.

An executive of six members, equally representing the cattle and sheep farmers, was set up to meet the Returned Soldiers’ Association executive, with a view to securing their support, the following being chosen: Messrs. H. McGregor, J. C. Fox. E. P. Aldridge. S. M Pope, R. W. Holley, R. H. Cox and F. R. Newbold.

It. was decided that the executive should draw up their proposals and present them to a meeting of the Returned Soldiers’ Association executive at rhe Borough Council Chambers at middav on Tuesday next.