SOLDIER SETTLEMENT.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 4, 9 April 1920, Page 15

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT.

The following review of the progress of land settlement under the Discharged Scldiors' Settlement Act has been supplied by the Ministear of Lands at the request of "Quick March." There are few problems of repatriation of more interest tlian this matter of putting the returned soldier on the land, and the Hon D. H. Guthrie's authoritative survey of the accomplishment to date has particular value as a summary of what New Zealand has done in px-oviding opportunities for ^oldiers to become farmers. The Minister expresses his satisfaction with the steady progress that has been made since the passing of the D.S.S. Act. Up to the present time a total area of 1,477,295 acres has been settled by returned soldiers, this area comprising 252,651 acres of settlement land taken up by 1020 settlers, the land having heen purchased by the Government from private owners and snbsequently opened for selection, together with 643,893 acres of Crown Land and Nationa.1 Endowment land taken up by 656 settlers, and 600,751 acres of private freehold land vrhich has been purchased by 2968 returned soldiers with Government assistan-ce. At the present time there is available for immediate selection && ar^a of 130,807 acres of Crown land, whilst nearly 700,000 acres of Crown land is available and suitable for selection, but is not yet readj^ for offering. In addition to this, 58 private freehold estates have been purchased by the Government, and are being pxepared for selection hy soldiers, the areas aggregating 179,270 acres. The above figures relate to the settlement of rurad land, but it may be added that nearly 5000 retnrned soldiers, whose avocations are in towns, have been assisted with Government gra.nts in the purcliase of town residences. L is generally known that the Government, in addition to providing land fo ' returned soldiers, also provides finaiicial assistance for the erection of houses, purchase of land, implements, stcck, machinery, etc., and for the making of improvements, and in evexy way assists the soldiers to establish themselves on the land. Over £10,000,000 has now been expended under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act for these purposes, and each day further advances are being made, and every endeavour is being made to continue the settlement of the discharged soldiers on satisfactory lines. It may be mentioned that the benefits of the Act applied primarily to meinbers of the Expeditionary Forces (either naval or military) who had left New Zealand for the front and had retumed to New Zealand and been discharged from service with an honourable record. Amendments to the Act provide that henefits were also to be given to members of the Expeditionary Forces who were in C&mp at the signing of the Axmistice and had not left New Zealand, and hy the latest amendment members of the N.Z.

Army Nursing Service who have served abroad are also entitled to some of the benefits of the act. Pailiament also provided that instruc tors at a Camp for military training condncted for the purpose of Expeditionary Forces should be eligible for benefits to.gether with members of an Expeditkaiary Force who had heen classed as medieally fit, and served in a training camp in New Zealand, and, through no fault of their cwn, were discharged from the Forces. The terms under which land is aequired aro varied so as to suit the requirements of the applicanis. Land may be purchased for cash oecupation with right of purchase, or renewable lease, whilst there is a special tenxire providing for purchase under deferred payment, the term of purchase extending over 20 years, or for the oecupation of the land under renewable leaso with the right of acqniring the freehold at any time, if necessary under deferred payment. Special supervisors have heen appointed in each district to visit and adviee settlers, and in addition the Crown Land Rangers of the Department, and the expert officers of the Agricultural Department and other Departments, from time to time assist with adviee any settler who may desire it.

It may be stated that ihe majority of t'u. settlers are establishing themselves in a satisfactory manrier, and had every prospect of doing well at an early date. Necegsaialy some of the settlers are not so experienced as ctbers and may have ER6' with misfortune in the progress of settlement, but the provisions of the Act which provide, where necessary, for postponement or remission of rent, and other concessdons, have been interpreied by the Land Boards, and the Government in J\ ia-.eral raaimer, and evcay endeavour hac beaa made to aeo that the settlers are agsskfced to maiiRain thmfnsdfves undfer the mos4, farouraMe conditione.