SOLDIERS ON THE LAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1922, Page 5

SOLDIERS ON THE LAND.

DEMAND FOR RE-VALUATIONS. A SERIOUS PROBLEM. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night Mr. A. E. Fear, organising secretary o£ the Dairy Farmers’ Union, '-attended the Dominion conference of the Returned Soldiers’ Association to-day, and submitted the following resolution that had been passed by the Dairy Farmers’ Union at the Hamilton meeting: “That this conference urge upon the Government to bring immediate relief to returned soldiers on the land by passing legislation this session to have a re-valuation on productive values, and also asks the Government to only deduct . one-third from the milk cheques from returned solderis, so as to encourage these men to keep on producing, 1/3 per lb butter-fat to be the basis of re-valuation.” Mr. Fear emphasised the seriousness the position. It was felt that unless something was done, and done very soon, a very large percentage of men would go off the land. In asking the GovernmeOt to pass the necessary legislation, he points ed out that it was in the interests of the country that such should be done. It could not be expected that these men could pay their way on the high prices given by the Government for land during the boom, with the result that applications were made to the Government, and so far it simply meant that the evil day had been put off. That, however, was not enough. These men had done their duty to the country, and the country should do its duty to the men, and the Dairy Fann* era’ Union desired to have the assistance of the present conference in having the difficulties remedied. The desire must be to keep the men on the land and abo to keep up the production of the country in respect to the primary industries affected. The speaker mentioned cases pf laige deductions from milk cheques. Re-valua-tion must be carried out so as to encourage the men to retain their holdings. As he had said, the position was very serious. If the men had to go off the land, that would mean accentuating the hnuring problem and the unemployment evil. The president of the conference, General Sir A. H. Russell, said the question which had been brought before the conference was a most difficult one, and Mr. Fear and the Farmers’ Union might rest assured that the Returned Soldiers’ Conference'' would do all in its power to assist in getting over the existing difficulties.