C.-9

1916. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY: DISCHARGED SOLDIERS SETTLEMENT: IMPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1916.

Presented to hath Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 1.1/ of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915.

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist May, 1!)16. In accordance with the provisions of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1916, I havo the honour to submit herewith, for presentation to Parliament, the first report on the operations under this Act, which came into force on the 11th October last, less than six months before the close of the financial year. I have, &c, T. N. RItODRIOK, Under-Secretary of Lands. The Right Hon. W. F. Massey, P. 0., Minister of Lands.

REPORT. As it was recognized that during the war and after its termination a great demand would be "fnade for land by soldiers who had formerly been engaged in farming or other rural occupations, and also by soldiers who, though having been formerly employed in towns, had become enamoured with the open-air life that a military campaign entails, and as it was felt that it was the duty of the State to do all that was reasonably possible for these men who had risked their lives in its defence, the Government introduced into Parliament last October a Rill to make provision for the settlement of discharged soldiers on Crown and settlement lands. This Rill was duly passed by Parliament, and is now the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915. To give further- power to settle members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces on the land sections 23 and 24 were inserted in the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1915. It will thus be seen that the Government has adopted every reasonable measure for providing mil- discharged soldiers with a means of securing their future livelihood in a way that is in accordance with their predilections, and also an advantage to the State in bringing about the settlement of population in the country rather than in the towns. Special attention is directed to section 13 of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, under which it is provided that the right of a discharged soldier to a pension under the War Pensions Act shall not be affected by reason of any benefit he may become entitled to under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act. It is gratifying to note that New Zealand legislation appears to be well designed to cope with the problems of finding suitable occupation for discharged soldiers, and this is evidenced by the fact that the Act subsequently passed by the South Australian Parliament is practically identical with the New Zealand Act. From the extensive interest manifested by all classes of the community in the scheme adopted by Parliament last year, and tho numerous inquiries regarding it that arc being continually received, it is recognized that what has been done in this Dominion is a definite endeavour to satisfactorily deal with this most important matter at the earliest possible opportunity. As time goes on it. will doubtless be found necessary to widen the scope of the Act, so as to comprehensively deal with the varied classes of soldiers, their manifold requirements, and all bodies of men entitled to recognition by the people of this Dominion,

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