PENALISING SOLDIER SETTLERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 78, 3 April 1926, Page 15

PENALISING SOLDIER SETTLERS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —May I draw your attention to an injustice done to three soldier settlers on Reporoa. About five years ago five settlers of the first ballot purchased a mower and drill on equal shares on the advice of the Crown Lands ranger out of their £750 advance. Some time back two of the shareholders of the implements, sick of the hopeless struggle against bush sickness and unseasonable climate, gave up their holdings and departed to other fields. The Lands Department reduced the value ol the shares held by the two departed settlers from £25 down to £6, and asked the remaining three settlers to fork out £4 each to buy the others out. Tl}e three settlers then asked for their shares to be reduced in the same ratio as the others for the reason that they were still on the land, and considered that they had as good a right for a reduction as the ones who had left their holdings to the rabbits. This was refused and a demand made to pay up for the others' shares or else the fields inspector will sell the implements by public, auction. What do you think of this for a square deal? —I "am, etc., PUMICE SICK.