FIGHTING HILL BLOCK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 134, 18 March 1948, Page 4

FIGHTING HILL BLOCK

Land Offered to ExServicemen ONLY TWO APPLICANTS “It might surprise those present to learn that when Ihe Fighting Hill block, Snowden, recently acquired by the Crown for the settlement of exservicemen, was put up for ballot, there were only two applicants in Canterbury to take over tbe land. We have -544 ex-servicemen graded A waiting for farms in Canterbury, but only two men were interested enough to make application for this block/’ said Mr G. Watt, senior development officer in the Lands and Survey .Department for the Canterbury area, at a meeting of the Christchurch It.S.A. and Ashburton R.S.A. and land committees of sub-branches, held in Rakuia last night. The meeting was held to discuss speedier land settlement in the Can terbury and Mid-Canterbury areas. Mr Watt and Mr K. M. Powers, de> velopment officers for the Mid-Canter-bury area in the Lands and Survey Department, were present by invitation.

Mr Watt explained that the Fight ing Hill block was suitable for sub division into two blocks. There was only one house on the block, but the Department, because it was in favour of speedy settlement, had put up the block for ballot. It was felt that the wife of one of the successful applicants could offer board to the other applicant until the other house was erected on the property. He had been surprised when only two men had made application for the property. The land was in good order. It would be taken over by applicants after 12 months on wages. Good Publicity

Mr CL A. Franks (Christchurch) asked Mr Watt if the property had been sufficiently advertised. Mr Watt replied that the Rehabilitation committees in the . Canterbury areas had been advised that Fighting Hill was to be balloted for, the Grade A ex-servicemen had all been circularised, and the block had been advertised in the papers. Mr Franks said the matter was a serious one. The Christchurch R.S.A. had been advocating the speedier settlement of blocks and had considered that ex-servicemen should be given the opportunity of getting on to the land before it was developed up to the standard as laid down in the present policy. The R.S.A. had approached the Rehabilitation Minister (the Hon. C. F. Skinner) and had received an assurance from him that he would endeavour to place men who were willing to take on properties with few improvements.

The Fighting Hill question appeared to give the lie direct to the fact that there were ex-servicemen willing to take on blocks without the improvements, as laid down in the policy, said Mr Franks. Ex-servicemen did not appear willing to take on undeveloped places, as had been done after the last war.

Some members questioned whether Fighting Hill could be taken as a criterion. It was above the snowline. Members of the Rakaia R.S.A. stated, however, that the block was an ideal one, with rich black soil, and suitable both for sheep and cropping. The block, in the opinion of those familiar with it, was an ideal one, and eminently suitable for ex-service-men farmers.