LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16699, 6 December 1919, Page 1

LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE. A MARVELLOUS RECORD. The necessity for speeding qp the acquisition of rural lands far settlement by discharged soldiers was emphasised by Mr X. B. McCallum, president of the Returned Soldiers' Association, in the courso of the proceedings at the deputation from tho Association which waited on the Prime Minister yesterday. Many returned soldiers. Mr MtCalltini said, were disappointed at the ballots. Mr Massey: There are moro applicants than sections? Mr McCallum: At every ballot there are hundreds and hundreds of disappointed men. The Government should adopt a bold policy of land settlement for returned soldiers —they are eager and keen to go on the land. We don't Kay that such a policy has not been given effect to in sonic parts of New Zealand ; but we are more particularly anxious about Canterbury soldiers. Canterbury. to a certain extent, has been nenl?cted: the land offered has not been sufficient to meet the demand; in Auckland the demand has been met to a certain extent. In Canterbury returned soldiers.are travelling from one end of the country to the other, wasting their capital in peeking to pet sections. We ask that estates not stocked up to'their ful capacity, or not worked to their full capacity—especially largo estates —should bo taken boldly by tho Government. Mr Massey: Can you suggest any? Mr McCallum: Teviotdale and Seadown: a petition signed by 70 returned soldiers previously brought these under your notice. Men disappointed at the ballots naturally seek private lands; they pay not only a fair price for such, but also an enormous unearned increment—possibly a great deal more than if tho lands ivero purchased by the State, and they knew that tho State was tho best 'landlord. When high country was acquired by the Government, the stock on it should -1)0 also acquire d; it was absolutely necessary that stock born and bred on such country should be got by the men taking it up. Mr M r "Callum also urged that Advisory Boards, consisting of retired farmers, should be set up to advise soldier farmers without experience. Mr Massey: Tho Government is encouraging that now. Mr McCallum: 'I don't think that anything has been dono in Canterbury." He again urged tho adoption of a bold policy of land settlement. Mr Massey: If we are not very careful wo aro going to get to tho end. of our money. Mr McCallum: Is it not better to get to the end of borrowed money and give tho country a chance to prouueo more? Mr Massey. "That is exactly what we aro doing." Replying to tho representations of the deputation, tho Prime Minister said that ho had been aatonished to learn from official figures that Canterbury had dono moro in regard to tho repatriation of soldiers than nny other land district —ho thought it was n marvellous record. Mr McCallum: Repatriation doesn't necessarily mean settling men on the land. Mr Massev: I'm aware of that; l>ut I was referring to land settlement. This is a return showing tho number of soldiers fettled on tho land sinco the inception of tho Bcliemo till October 31st last: — No. of I/and Soldiers District. Settled. North Auckland ... 086 Auckland ... ... ... 763 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... 505 Taranaki ... ... 297 Wellington ... ... 1400 Canterbury ... ... ... 1611 Otago ... ... ... 465 Mr Lcadley: Are town properties included? Mr Massey: They aro. Mr M.Callum: Take grazing and pastoral runs. Mr Massey: "I don't think T havo the separate figures." He added that in Canterbury up to tho end of November, 1919, tho total number of soldiers settled on land and in town properties was 19G3 —an increase of 354 in one month. Mr McCallum said that they wanted to make a special point of the fact that not sufficient land was offered at tho ballots. In purchasing private land, , discharged soldiers had to pay higher prices. Mr Massey said that the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr H. I>. M. Haszard, who. with the chief clcrk, Mr It. Lcckie, ;vns present) hnd infonned him that Teviotdale was undw consideration at present, and had been visited by the members of the Land Purchase Board. Mr Haszard remarked that ten pastoral runs in Canterbury, totalling 116,930 acres, would lo available in January and February next. These include tho Rhoberough Downs, Ben Ohau, Clent Hills, certain Cheviot runs, and Waitohi Peaks. Mr McCallum: We were gratified to see that announcement this morning. The Cheviot runs have been under consideration for a long time. Mr Massey: "They were held back to give Main Body men a fair chance. 1 thjnk they're the most valuable of tho lot." Continuing, Mr Massey said that the fact that in the Dominioiw4GOO soldiers had been placed on the land, and 2COO in homes in the city, was, he thought, a marvellous record* He had knowledge of what was b?ing dono in Great Britain, and the British Government, with all its wealth, had not done so much for the whole British Army as the Dominion Government had done for the X.Z E.F. While in England ho had looked into what had been done, and his opinion had been asked by the British Government in respect of the matter, and what he had said respecting Xew Zealand was a result of his observations at Home. He thought he could say the same of Canada as he had said of New Zealand. Ho referred to the lengthy process provided by law in respect of taking land compulsorily. Mr McCallum: Is the dolay necessary, or is it only a matter of amending the law? Mr Massey: Amendment of the law is quite another matter. You don't know what delay is involved in getting Parliament to amend laws. Replying to Mr McCallum's query as to the Government raising taxation on tho prices placed on their properties by landowners. Mr Massey said that there was a difference l>3tween selling value and valuation for taxation purposes. The Government was bound to accept the valuations of the Land Valuation Department. Ho was of opinion that, on the whole, the Government in its purchase of land had got good value. In respect of the Gladorock Estate he had said at the time it was bought that the had under-cstimatod the valuo by £20,00?, and subsequent events had shown that the estate was bought cheaply. The fact that tho Government nad paid fair values was proved by tho fact that hundreds of soldiers hid been offered big profits if the Crown would allow them to sell; but tho Government did not intend to allow speculation.