SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 March 1943, Page 3

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

SELECTION OF SUITABLE LAND FARMERS WILLING TO ASSIST. BUT NOT REPRESENTED ON LOCAL BOARD. ' A resolution moved by Mr. J. H. MacDonald and seconded by Mr. J. L. Heckler: “That the executive form a committee to consider and make recommendations to the Rehabilitation Board regarding the settlement of returned men on suitable land coming on the market from time to time,” was deferred for consideration at the next meeting of the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday. Mr. MacDonald said that it was not fair that while their men were away fighting should increase their holdings although they were doing well on their own land. Some people in the towns were buying farms as an investment and causing an inflation of prices for farms. The men doing jobs overseas were going to pay for that speculation when they came back to settle on the land. The executive should form a committee, said Mrj MacDonald, to make recommendations about land on the market in co-opera-tion with the Rehabilitation Board. Referring to the local Rehabilitation Board, several members said they had no idea as to the personnel of the board. The president, Mr. Hugh Morrison, and others expressed concern at the fact that the Farmers’ Union did not have direct representation on the board. Mr. J. P. Peterson (Eketahuna) said that farmers knew local farming conditions in their area better than anyone else. Mr J. H. Bremner observed that the position was complicated by the fact that three departments were involved —namely, the Rehabilitation Board, the State Advances Corporation, and the Lands Department. He knew of a case where the local farmers had formed a committee to help the Rehabilitation Board but on the first occasion that a soldier was settled on land in the district the committee was not even informed or consulted. When approached in the matter a member of the board told him that it had faith in its own officers. Mr MacDonald said that if the board did not want any assistance the executive could at least show that it was willing to assist. Mr R. D. McKenzie pointed out that returned men were in favour of freehold land. x The president. Mr Hugh Morrison, said that the executive had no standing from the legal point of view. He thought the best approach to the matter would be through the Returned Services’ Association. The local Rehabilitation Board did not have a farmer on it. After further discussion it was decided to defer the matter until the next meeting of the eexcutive.