SETTLING SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1922, Page 7

SETTLING SOLDIERS.

FINE SPIRIT OF MEN. SOME STRIKING FIGURES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, June 30. In taking leave of the Wellington Land Board to-day Mr. McClure, Commissioner, said that the Discharged Soldiers’ Amendment Act had so greatly increased the work as to change the board into a body similar to the largest mercantile corporation in the Dominion. One hundred and fifteen estates, containing 84,498 acres were purchased for £1.6G7,-811, and £2,829,126 was advanced for the purchase of farms and houses, in addition to 58,540 acres of Crown land selected by returned men. A further sum of £662,699 was advanced to purchase stock making a grand total of £5,159,636, with 38*29 ledger accounts. There had been *2503 persons settled on the land besides 2490 soldiers, who were assisted' to buy and erect houses. The way men had buckled-to and improved their holdings, despite the unprecedented slump, augured well for the country and they had reason to be grateful to the staff of the Lands and Survey Department, many of whom are returned men themselves, for the care and attention devoted to the carrying out of the Act.

Mr. McClure thanked the members of the board and staff for the support he had received and the arduous work they had done, mentioning that the board's sitting days had been increased from one to four.