"A CHURLISH SOIL FOR SCANTY BREAD."

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 7, 30 April 1920, Page 8

"A CHURLISH SOIL FOR SCANTY BREAD."

Such is the position of a number of returned soldiers in the Clifton district (Balclutha), w'no after fair trial find that the land is not of the class required to give encouragement and return a just remuneration for the work that they have done. We hear a good deal in these days of the operat^j of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act. Ministerial summaries present a very favourable picture but hundreds of returned men can demonstrnte the fact that, "All is not gold that glitte.fs," and the class of land opened up under this act is frequently of a class that even the Land Board will not entert-ain. The Land Board have declined to make -advances on improved farms in the same district, although the price asked, has not heen more than the soldiers paid for Clifton land, Furthermore, highly improved land with good dwellings and buildings, nearer the railway, in the same district, are being offered for sale at the same price the soldier settlers are paying for land in Clifton estate where there is only old pasture and no buildings. There is a remarkahle inconsistency about- this and

it is evident tliat the Government has made a bad gelection and oue not in ihe interosts of men who have to work this "cburlish soil for scanty bread. This is no new thing for the Government, and it is difficult to understan-d the Government's attitude, a.nd more so, its lack of common ssnse in placing men on land, under conditions which prcvent them from being a real factor in the Dorcinion's production. Tho organiser (Mr Colquhouu), reports that they are a good class of settler and they should receive considcration at the hands oi the Government. The organiser reconimended that ; 1.-— A re-valuation of the Clifton estate with a view of reducing the reata! on the land to a fair value. 2.- — To assist the present settlers in their difliculties, a remission of two years' rent to be made provided tho settier has improved his farm to the value of two years' rent. 3. — That the present settlers be given the option of increasing their holdings to enable them to secure suffieient land to profitably work a mixed farm. These recommendations are very modest anl should b,c seriously considered by the Department and an opportunity be given tlie settlers of making good.