SOLDIER SETTLERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1922, Page 5

SOLDIER SETTLERS.

EFFECTS OF THE SLUMP. REVALUATIONS OF LAND LOANS BEING RE-PAID. The advances made to returned soldiers to enable them to take up farms, the effects of the slump and the position of the returned men generally, were dealt with by the Prime Minister in his speech at New Plymouth last night. The returned soldiers had been through a hard time, Mr. Massey said. A good number of the returned soldiers had wanted to go on the land, but after they had got there, and had purchased their stock, along came the slump and down went the value of their produce. The worst thing that had happened to the soldiers was the slump in the value of their stock. That was the very worst thing and the Government could not help that, but the Minister of Lands had appointed two of the most competent men to inquire into the position of each individual soldier settler and re-value his land. They would also consider how the soldier could get the most comfortable living from his place. The reports would be submitted the Minister to the Government, and if they thought that ton much was being paid for the land they would reduce the rentals and, perhaps, the purchase price. (Applause 7 .) “It is no Use playing with the thing,” Mr. Massey went on. “If we have to meet a loss wo must face it. And we have got losses.” It was a most difficult position and lie hoped the Government would be able to put the soldiers in a better condition. The Minister of Lands had told him that he had heard from a good number of soldiers who were doing well, while he himself knew of others who could sell out at a profit if the Government would allow them. The State, however, had said that they must stay on their places for 10 years as a proof of their bonafides. One way and another assistance had been given to 82,500 soldiers. The assistance in some instances was very small, as in the case of soldiers who could not return to their pre-war occupations. These men had been assisted in the way of giving them training in the technical schools and in other industires. Of the loans of over £2.280,000 for furniture, tools, etc., £1,780.000 had been repaid and the repayments were still being made. It was splendid the way the money had been repaid. Advances for the purchase of stock and land had amounted to £21,000,000. The men had cleared the land and he thought it was a splendid asset for the country. Many of the men were behind with their rents, and he did not know whether these men would be called on to make up the arrears. That question would have to be held over in the meantime. They were experiencing a tremendous increase in the quantity of dairv producej which was going out of the country, and a large proportion of it was coming from soldier settlers in Taranaki. (Applause.)