FARMS FOR SOLDIERS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21367, 11 March 1941, Page 2

FARMS FOR SOLDIERS

GOVERNMENT’S POLICY “NOT IN BACKBLOCKS” (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Monday “We are aiming to secure the better class lands nicely situated close to the markets, railways, schools and other amenities, so that we can avoid placing the men in the backblocks,” said the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone, today, when discussing the Government’s purchases of land for soldier settlement under the Small Farms Amendment Act, 1940. The Minister said that the broad principles of settlement on the property already acquired would be considered tomorrow at a conference between the Lands Department and the Returned Soldiers’ Association. Mr Langstone revealed that no applications lor land had been received from soldiers who had already been invalided back to New Zealand. The shortage of labour in almost every avenue of employment had resulted in the men returning having no difficulty after they became fit in obtaining employment. Training Period Probable “I have asked the Returned Soldiers’ Association for its co-opera-tion,” the Minister said. “Among the returned men there will be various degrees of ability to farm. Because of their previous experience and knowledge some will be able to operate a farm immediately they return. Others may need a period of training. “The possibility is that the men will be classified into various groups so that the land will be farmed 100 per cent successfully. Some men might find that after farming for a period they want to go into other occupations, and some period decided on from time to time will probably be fixed so that we can ascertain whether a returned soldier has a natural bent for the land and is desirous of following farming as his future calling.” The policy of the Lands Department not to settle the whole of any area at the same time was explained by the Minister. He said a property might settle from 10 to 20 families. It was recognised that all the men would not be returning at once and it was only fair to hold parts of the areas so that there would be a gradual settlement.