SOLDIER SETTLEMENT.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18141, 2 August 1924, Page 14

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT.

PRACTICAL MAN'S SOUND ADVICE. SPEECH BY MR K. S. WILLIAMS, M.P. (3P£CIIL TO "TEX PEE3S. ') WELLINGTON, August 1. Mr K. 3. Williams, the member for the Bay of Plenty, is one of the few members of the House who do not talk a great deal, but when he does speak he generally has something to say that is worth listening to, and it is listened to. In his speech to-day, during the Budget debate, he expressed the opinion that the soldier settlement scheme was working in the right direction. Taunts, he said, were constantly hurled at the Kel'orm Government in regard to the scheme as if they were responsible for all the over settlement that had taken place. Anyone who was in New Zealand at the time when the question arose, knew perfectly well that not only ti»e Government but, tifa .Parliament and practically everyone in New Zealand considered that everything possible should be done to get the soldiers back into civilian life. Everyone was clamouring for land settlement and for repatria tion.

"No dotrbt the land did cost too much," added Mr Williams. "We have to recognise that, but 1 think that the need of the moment is th:u> we should all -work together to see that whatever is done is in the best interests of the soldiers, and I think the efforts of the Government tend in that direction. I do not wish to detract from the deeds of the men who went to the war. but it must be admitted that a certain proportion of those who were settled on the land were not fit for that line of life. They had not had experience in it, and 1 think many of them were encouraged to go on the land by the popular idea that when once a man got a piece of land and went upon it. his fortune was made. Experience is showing that there is a great _ deal more needed than mere ownership of land; that practical knowledge is a requirement. I think the GoVAiynent -is wise in not being too precipitate about the settlement of further land. We have to get our land values back to a stable basis, and it is wise not to go on trying to increase settlement at the present moment. It will probably be discovered when the Revaluation Boards have completed their work and the moratorium is lifted, that the Government should exercise greater care in regard to the men placed upon the land than has been done in the past. "I do not think that the fact that a man has no capital should debar him from the right to occupy State land. Though the possession of a certain sum of money may he taken as evidence of thrift, we have to remember that many men have had responsibilities which have debarred them from saving up the nest-egg that has given others their start in life. While the possession of money should not debar men. I do say that they rhonld !>:- required to bring to the Government recommendations either from men for whom they have worked or from someone else who can testify to their cap-abilities of making good on the land. I say this because I think farming is the only productive work which the Government undertakes to finance. Professional men, thongh they have to pass examinations, are not financed by the Government, so I say when the Government finances men in the taking up of land it has every right to see that those who are allowed to ballot for sections have the necessary qualifications and experience.

"When we are discussing land settlement we ought to recognise that closer settlement is for the benefit of the Dominion as a whole, and not merely for the benefit of the settlers. In the past, when an estate has been cut up or fresh land brought into development, the practice has been to load the land with all the costs of subdivision, drainage coßt3 and other incidental costs, and to place that burden on the people who take tip the land. But seeing that land settlement is for the benefit of the Dominion as well as for the benefit of the settler, it seems to me it would be legitimate for the Consolidated Fund to bear a proportion of the initial expenses. If the Government adopts my suggestion there is mucli land that might be subdivided, otherwise the cost of subdivision might strangle the settlers and, as a result, the land would not be brought into use.