5

o.—9a.

PART I.

GENERAL OPINION OF INQUIRY BOARDS ON SOLDIER SETTLEMENTS IN THE VARIOUS LAND DISTRICTS.

North Auckland Land District. Acting upon the authority contained in your memorandum of the 24th October, 1922, appointing a Board of Inquiry for the North Auckland Land District to inquire into the position of discharged soldier settlers, early in November, 1922, we entered on our duties. We have proceeded with due diligence since that time to make the necessary investigations, and have now the honour to present our report. Our operations have been practically limited to those settlers who made application by sending in a statement of position as provided in Form A. During the course of our inquiry we inspected about 364 farms, and conferred with the settlers concerned. It is to be regretted that when the " A " forms were issued a final date was not stated at which applications must be returned if consideration was to be given. In estimating the effort put forth by the settlers since taking possession the Board found it desirable to have official information as to the condition of the properties when taken over by the Crown. Generally speaking, we found the information supplied by the settlers on Form A to be incomplete and of little service, and in conversation it transpired that few of them understood the nature of the information asked, or its object. We find that, on the whole, the soldier settlers are facing their jiroblems cheerfully, working well, in some cases very strenuously, with a determination to succeed, and with confidence that the Government will, not fail them. These comments apply equally to soldiers' wives, many of whom, though accustomed to city life, have adapted themselves successfully to the new conditions with commendable courage. One general condition serves to explain the failure of many settlers to pay their way during the first years. A great proportion of the properties purchased were in the condition expressed by the term " gone back," and were not capable of carrying sufficient stock to meet instalments until the pastures had been renovated and manured. Much of the land, having been felled bush, has exhausted its original fertility, and to artificially renew its carrying-capacity has absorbed all the reserve the settlers had. Although most of them are now able to pay their way on jiresent production, they are unable to pay off the arrears which accumulated during the years of low productivity. With regard to the several clauses set down on your memorandum of instructions, we find — Generally our Opinion of Soldier Settlements in the said Land District. —The Board assumes that these settlements were established with the objects of —(a) Providing the means whereby discharged soldiers could make homes and become self-supporting; (b) extension of settlement and greater development of the State's resources ; (c) facilitating a continuance of social intercourse among former comrades : and that to attain these objects the position should be such that under normal conditions and with fair management the soldiers should pay their way and maintain a fair standard of comfort. We are of the ojMnion that the attainment of these objects has been, in a number of cases, greatly retarded by faulty subdivision and unsuitable areas, this causing certain settlers to hold land in excess of their requirements, which they are unable to develop, and which increases their annual charges. We find that the short-dated term for the payment for buildings has handicajiped them in their effort to succeed, and on this matter certain recommendations will be made. There are some few sections for which no applications have been received, and which are a source of anxiety to adjoining soldier settlers and a menace to the district by harbouring noxious weeds and rabbits. We recommend that consideration be given to the importance of having these occupied, and to the advisability of leasing them for a term of years free of rent, upon strict improvement conditions. Auckland Land District. Summary. The Inquiry Board considers that, while admitting that the Government had a very arduous and difficult task in providing land for soldiers, yet in many cases too high a price was paid for the land, and in other instances land unsuitable for close settlement has been acquired. Regarding lands under section 2, it is considered that in many cases the price was too high, and that the Government has been misled by parties employed as experts. The slump in butterfat and general produce, together with the inflated prices of farm requisites on top of high prices for land, does not leave much chance for many of the settlers to pull through, unless substantial relief is now given. Owing to the slump and peak prices the Government advances on current account are considered inadequate. The prices of bush land are considered reasonable, but the settlers thereon have been hard hit by the slump in cattle. Cattle are essential for breaking in bush land and rendering it fit to run sheep on, and it is sheep-farming that this class of land is best suited for. Dairying on bush farms has been carried out under difficulties, and if the Government could see its way to provide further financial assistance on current account it is believed that most of these settlers would " make good." Attention is drawn to the want of telephone facilities and the linking-up of all the unmetallcd portions of roads. The great majority of soldier settlers are a good class. Most of the unsuitable settlers have been weeded out, and it is only a matter of time when the remaining few will give place to better men.