SOLDIER SETTLERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 March 1922, Page 7

SOLDIER SETTLERS.

CAUSES OF THEIR FAILURE. “FAULT OF GOVERNMENT.” Strong criticism of the settlement of soldiers under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act, to its detriment, was made in the report of a special subcommittee to the executive of the Auckland Returned (Soldiers’ Association. The chief points stressed had to do chiefly with over-priced land, lack of supervision, with a recommendation that the communal basis should be introduced in respect to the settlement of lands by new farmers, thereby giving relief to unemployment. The report, after dealing with the conditions’ of purchase by soldiers of soldiers’ homes suggested that where such properties had been abandoned the policy of the first loss being the least loss should be adopted and the properties transferred to new applicants at a revaluation, the loss, if any, to be borne by the Crown. In view of the greater cost under the 10 per cent, profit bastjs it was suggested that all buildings erected under the Act should be built by contract. The next portion o< tlie report dealt with failures in connection with farming, many properties having been abandoned, and the contention was put forward that the position was entirely the fault of the Government, because many incompetent and inexperienced men had been allowed to take on farms. The present condition under which new applicants could take over abandoned: properties was grossly unfair, the report asserted, “in almost every case a large sum being owing to the board for arrears, and the stock having depreciated in value?’ Several other similar contentions were put forward. The suggestion in this connection was that the only fair and equitable way to deal with these abandoned properties was for the Crown to suffer the first loss and resell to new applicants at a revaluation of farm, stock, and implements.

The report went on to deal with the settlement of farm lands by new far-, mers, whether soldiers or civilians, and advocated the purchase of good unimproved land in large blocks, and the starting of new settlements on a communal basis. The sub-committee contended that this scheme should have been adopted by the Government five years ago, and stressed the fact that it was not now too late, because there were many men at present unemployed, both soldiers and civilians, who w mid eargerly accept such an opportunity. The report was adopted the meeting strongly approving the principle that where Land Boards had recommended loans for the building of houses and the consent of the Minister had been refused because of the stoppage of payments under the Act, the Government should grant such loans. It was agreed, however, that advances should on’y be made where the soldier had a contract with a builder, no loan to be approved for building on the 10 per cent, basis. The suggestions with regard to farm lands were also approved. It was decided to forward copies of the resolutions to the Prime Ministei and Cabinet Ministers, and to want upon the various Ministers on their uext visits to Auckland.