SOLDIER SETTLEMENT.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16959, 7 October 1920, Page 8

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT.

MODIFIED CONDITIONS EXPLAINED BY MINISTER.

(SrECUI. TO "THE FfflSSa.")

WEIXLNGTON, October 6. Mr Masters asked a question in the House to-day Tegarding the policy of the Government in the settlement of returned soldier 3 on the land. He had heard, he stated, that certain new instructions relating to the purchase of single farms and of houses had been sent to the Commissioners of Crown TheMinisteT of Lands (the Hon. D. H. .Guthrie) replied J-hat (he had already written to the Returned Soldiers Aviation on this matter. The positlon was that no further applications would he accepted by the Lands Department for tho purchase of houses under she Discharged Soldiors' Settlement Act, save in exceptional oases. ine iutUTQ policy of tho Government would bo'to encoirrage soldiers to apply tor advances to erect houses. This would help to relieve the existing shortage or ]iouses, and wotrid make the available funds go much further. Wrtlh regard to rural land, tho Department, except in cases where a man had paid his valuation fee, would discontinue making advances for the purchase of single farms, but would consider applications front two or more soldiers eligible under the Act for the purchase of a property suitable for subdivision. Where a soldier had sufficient, money to provide the Advances to Settlers' Department_with the necessary margin .of security, he would be able to apply for the purchase of a farm through that channel, lnd restriction in regard to rural lancS would not aoply to small poultry, bee, fruit, and market gardening farms. The Minister added that no applications for t)he discharge of existing mortgages would be accepted by the Government unless in most exceptional circumstances, such as if the mortgagee could prove that ho was charged an exorbitant rate of interest. If tho liiortgagee was paying the current rate of intorest, lie must carry t on. Advances on current account for the purchase of stock and implements, and for effecting imDrovements, would be-dealt with as usual. It Hind been stated ina Wellington newspaper that much trafficking in soldiers' land was going on. x That was not the case. Tho Department in a few cases had found it

necessary to let soldiers out, owing to their inability to work the land for one reason or another, but tihe soldiers generally could not traffic in the land and houses purchased for them until ten years had elapsed. Everything possible was done by the Department to stop any speculation or trafficking in these properties. Mr Guthrie added that all applications passed up to September 23rd had been dealt witlh. The recommendations that had been. made by the Commissioners since that date would he cleared up very quickly.