FORCED OFF.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 244, 15 October 1929, Page 5

FORCED OFF.

SOLDIER AND HIS FARM.

ATTACK ON DEPARTMENT.

REPLY BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON,' Monday. The treatment of returned soldiers who get into difficulties with their payments to the Lands Department was the subject of brief discussion in the House to-night, when the Land 6 Committee reported on the petition of a returned soldier,' Norman Randal McMurtry, of Marlborough, who prayed for relief from liability in respect- of lands at Kiuawa Settlement taken up by him under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act. The committee recommended the petition to the Government for favourable consideration. Mr. Healy, member for Wairau, who had presented the petition, explained that this was another case of of a soldier who took up land. too highly valued and failed to make a success. He bought at £2500, with stock, etc., at £800, and there was an advance of £3050 from the Government. Petitioner could not pay his way, and was obliged to walk off, when the land was sold for £1436, and he was indebted to the Government for the difference between that sum and the Government's advances. The whole reason for his failure was the high price of the land. Its real value was shown by the fact that adjoining country was •being used for tree planting. Several members expressed sympathy with McMurtry, Mr. Mason (Auckland Suburbs) taking a critical line that the Lands Department tormented soldiers who failed by following them up in regard to their debts, which put them in a hopeless position. The Hon. T. M. Wilford, Acting Leader of the House, remarked that.the discussion would have been of great interest to the Minister of Lands, but it was hardly fair to suggest of the present or former Government that they tormented soldiers who failed on their sections. The returned soldiers of New Zealand had been treated better than soldiers anywhere else in the world. It was difficult to sit still under such imputations, but he was glad to recognise that other members' speeches had been helpful, and he could assure them that the Government would not be unmindful of any favourable recommendation. If it could be carried out it would be done.