GISBORNE SOLDIER SETTLERS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18150, 13 August 1924, Page 7

GISBORNE SOLDIER SETTLERS.

MAJORITY MAKING GOOD. (special to "the psess.") GISBORNE, August 12,

Some interesting observations wero made fay Mr J. B. Kells, •• chairman of the local devaluation Committee, regarding the soldier settlers in this district. ' He expressed the belief that the great majority of the settlers were triers and really good men, but there were many -who lacked experience. When the men came back from the front there was a. demand that they should be' put on'farms, and men with little or no experience', but with a small amount 'of capital. were placed on holdings. Then followed the slump period, and those men who lacked experience were harder hit than men who thoroughly understood farming. There was no doubt that much of the land had been bought-at prices which wore too high. Revaluation showed that. But he did not think that the Government was greatly to blame. ' It was just an unfortunate result of-a time when everyone was receiving boom prices and thinking in boom values.

Another effect of the boom prices was that some of the holdings were made rather on the small side. He had an extensive knowledge of farming in this district, and it was his opinion that on present-day values a farmer required to have 1000 sheep or 30 cows in order to make a decent living.

Successes on the Coast. Of the soldiers' settlements in this district, Mr Kells thought that those on tlie coast had proved the best propositions. The soldiers on the Hurukia settlement had ■ been given fairly de-cent-sized holdings, and they were now doing well. The Parcmata settlement had also been a good purchase, and on the reduced values the settlers there should do all right.- Many of the soldier settlers with whom the Committee had come in contact had complained of the smallness of their holdings, and had told the Committee that they should reduce the'capitalvalue to such an extent that the result would represent a good living for the soldier. The Committee, however, were unable to accept this view, and based their estimates solely on the present value of the land. Questioned regarding the Waioeka country, Mr Kells said he was reluctant to express an opinion at present in view of the fact that a Commission would shortlv be enquiring into the position. He could say, however, that there was a considerable area which had been felled and grassed, and which had been going back. steadily into fern and coarse grasses. . There were a good manv settlers affected, including a few soldiers, but the whole position would be thoroughly reviewed when the Commission issued its report later in the year. • In conclusion, Mr Kells expressed the belief that the majority of the settlers in Poverty Bay would now make good. There were some who held small .areas of. land hardly sufficient to give them a decent living, but as time went on it might be possible to increase some of these holdings and thus increase their earning. After a complete survey of the district, he could say that the settlers, and this included .those who lacked experience, were a very fino body of men. As in all trades and professions, experience told in, sheep-farm-ing, as many of the settlers had found to their cost. He thought that most' of the settlers were satisfied With thoir revaluation figures, and that all were making a genuine endeavour successfully to farm their holdings. <