SOLDIERS' FARMS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 109, 10 May 1943, Page 2

SOLDIERS' FARMS

NEED IN DOMINION

PLAN TO MEET DEMAND

Recalling the pledges given by the Government and emphasising the duty owed to the men who offered their lives in the service of their country, Mr. D. V. Bryant, C.M.G., of Hamilton, who has had extensive experience in land settlement, to-day discussed his proposals for the rehabilitation of men who wish to seek a livelihood on the land. "At the beginning the Government bound us by a pledge," said Mr. Bryant. "It is a pledge which belongs to any 'New Order' worthy of the name, and we are all bound by it. It said to the soldiers when they sailed that whoever, on his return, wanted to farm, a farm would be provided for him, with the necessary stock, out of State capital and on generous terms. It said, in fact, that

lack of capital should prevent no soldier from taking his living from the land. "There are already soldiers demanding the fulfilment of the promise. Very soon there will be many more hammering at the gate. What are we doing? Disparity in Values "Suitable land is not on the market on suitable terms and in sufficient quantity. What is to become of our promise? "Possibly some will say that, if suitable farms are not available, the soldiers must take to pioneering, with bush land or depreciated or third class land," continued Mr. Bryant. "As a farmer with considerable experience of land and men I say the proposition is neither fair to the men nor to the country which would, in the end, pay the bill. The only way of fulfilling our promise is by providing accessible and highly improved land. "There is land in this country enough for all the demands involved in our national pledge. Much of it is held by large owners who could well afford, without depriving themselves of anything necessary to a healthy, comfortable and useful life, to surrender part of their holdings for those who liave taken the risk and survived. "I think that many a wealthy owner, if it w'ere put to him fairly, would welcome the chance of offering land, if he knew he would be treated equally in comparison with others of equal ownership. Such

matters, however, could not properly be left to private benevolence. In modern war democracy has demanded conscription so that men may pour into the training camps in a just and orderly rotation. Once we thought we would never again conscript life without conscripting wealth. The suggestion now is that the compulsion should be applied in respect to land. It is not suggested that the land should be taken without compensation, but it is suggested that the price should be fairly assessed. "The first requirement is a survey of the land available. Local committees Gould then decide upon the land most suitable for the individual applicant and the order in which owners should have the privilege of contributing. Assessment of Price "The price should be based upon the productive value of the land, not upon the market or speculative value. Any disparity between the productive and the speculative value would give two compensations. Firstly, the owner would be taking no undue advantage of his country's defender, and, secondly, payment in cash would obviate any chance of future loss under" mortgagors' protection legislation. "There is one stipulation that mightly fairly be made. Land so acquired should not be allowed again to come into the market for speculation. It would not be the intention of the State to provide capital for the purposes of land dealing, and the State should retain the right, if the soldier for good reason wishes to dispose of his holding, to buy back at the price paid, plus permanent improvements,, less depreciation. "To encourage our leaders and give them the necessary backing every member of the public should study all those problems, which are inherent in a new order."