LAND SETTLEMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 May 1943, Page 4

LAND SETTLEMENT

FACILITIES FOR RETURNED MEN GOVERNMENT’S POLICY CRITICISED. DISCUSSION BY FARMERS. The view that the Government did not intend settling returned men on the land was expressed at the annual meeting of the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday afternoon. A discussion took place on a remit which is to be sent to the Provincial Conference at Palmerston North, which asks for farmer representation on the Rehabilitation Committees. Mr J. P. Peterson, of Eketahuna, said at a meeting of the Eketahuna R.S.A. a returned soldier of this war related his experiences since his return to New Zealand four or five months ago. The soldier wanted to return to the land ■ and had selected a farm. He filled in 17 or 18 forms Mr H. L. Bennett: “Is that all? Why, he was lucky.” Continuing, Mr Peterson said after all the forms had been filled in the soldier was advised that his was a border line case, and that he should instead take up employment on the wharves. Mr Peterson said he had to admit that it was offering the soldier the best there was in the country. Members: "Hear, hear.” Mr Peterson said the Balfour Estate at Pahiatua had been passed in at £9 10s per acre. The reserve was £lO per acre. The Government did go to the trouble of sending a representative to the sale, but he turned down the land flatly. Mr Peterson said the sooner there was a purge of the powers that be the better. Mr J. L. Heckler said it did not look as if the Government had any intention of settling men on the land. The Government’s policy seemed to be to push the men off the land and evade the issue. Mr J. H. Bremner, of Pahiatua, said the farmers were making a generous gesture in offering their co-operation and assistance in land settlement schemes. Unfortunately, the present Government did not want any assistance. An offer of assistance by the Farmers’ Union headquarters had been ignored. The supervisor of the Balfour estate, Mr W. D. Taylor, had told him that the estate was an admirable proposition to cut up for about six farms. That was the most convincing evidence that could be got. The Government regarded the Farmers’ Union as a hostile organisation. Mr L. T. Daniell advocated the Government purchase of land for the soldiers and district committees farming the properties and holding the profits to assist the soldiers when they came to settle the land.