GO-SLOW SETTLEMENT.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 16, 2 July 1920, Page 9

GO-SLOW SETTLEMENT.

MEMBER5 AND SOL-B1EES. WELLINGTON, June 30. Half a million sterling, which" the Minister of Lands states is snfficient to carry on soldier settlement until Parliament fully considers the subject, was included in the votes passed by. the Imprest Supply Bill. There was critieism from several members about tailing off or complete stoppage of. advances to soldiers, Mr Young (Waikato) declaring that applicants were getting a circular promising future consideration when, as a matter of fact, applications were turned down. Colonel Mitchell asked how long this go-slow settlement was likely to last. Mr Massey : This will carry us on till a Loan Bill providing for soldiers' settlement and many other useful purposes is passed. Dr Thacker referred to th-e necessity for paying special atte-ntion to the need of tubercular patients who were able to take up light farming on discharge. Mr McCombs asked Mr Guthrie to- use his influence with the Minister of Defence to extend a tubercular man's pension for twelve months while he was settling down on the land Mr Guthrie (Minister of Lands) replied that this phase was considerably .exercising the minds of his officers. He had set aside special sections of easily cultivated land for tubercular cases, and proposed to have a special block of land allocated for them near Christchurch. Dr Blackmore had been asked to report upon it. Where easier parts of land were set aside none but tubercular patients would get a cha,nce to take up sections. Dr Thacker : Not too far from specialists. Mr Guthrie: We a.re acting under advice of Dr Blackmore.