SOLDIER FARMERS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 170, 18 July 1919, Page 7

SOLDIER FARMERS.

EXCESSIVE LAND VALUES. EXPLOITATION ALLEGED. (By Telegraph. — Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. Several applications under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act were dcclinod by the Land Board, acting in what it considered the best interests ofi the men themselves, on account of the: excessive values demanded by the vendors. The commissioner, Mr. Haszard,] said that in many cases the prices -asked ranged from 40 to 100 per cent, above, the Government valuation, and it would j be well for would-be sellers to understand that their cases were being noted.J and if properties wore brought up tol their own estimates at the next assessment, and taxes and rates increased! proportionately, they would only have! themselves to thank. In a case before the board tho ven-l dor's interest had been recently valued! at £2250. and he had appealed againetl the valuation as excessive. He was| now asking a discharged soldier £3500j for the goodwill. The board declined! to recommend the transaction to the I Minister. , The question of providing land forj soldiers was discussed. A resolution was unanimously carried that the attention s of the Minister of Lands be drawn to '■' the urgent necessity for more expedition ! " to be used in the purchase aud settle- * ment of land for returned soldiers, and r that the Minister be respectfully re--0 quested to appoint a separate land purs chase board to deal with the purchase c of land in the Canterbury land district ' to provide land urgently needed for s the settlement of returned soldiers who are anxious to settle on land in Canterbury. Mr. Haszard, while agreeing with the resolution, pointed ot.t that legislation would he necessary to give effect to it. Another member expressed the opinion that two land purchase boards were necessary in Canterbury, one for the north and one for the south, to meet the unsatisfied demands of discharged soldiers for land.