LAND POLICY FOR SOLDIERS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23845, 14 January 1943, Page 4

LAND POLICY FOR SOLDIERS

FARMERS’ HELP SUGGESTED

IN FORMULATION

That the Government should be asked if it would accept the assistance of the Farmers’ Union in formulating a land settlement policy for returning soldiers, was a resolution passed at the meeting of the North Canterbury Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union yesterday. A Hawke’s Bay Union's suggestion that the Government be asked to define its land policy, was the subject being discussed, Mr L. R, C. Macfarlane suggesting that the union should have a policy, as representing the practical men. Committees, he said, would be able to advise returning soldiers.

It was really the Government’s responsibility, said Mr R. T. McMillan, to indicate what their policy was. The Farmers' Union would be prepared to assist in every way possible, but it would be difficult for the union to bring down a policy first. The union was non-party political and had to exercise care in what it did. The chairman (Mr R. G. Bishop) agreed that the union would help once the Government formulated a policy. As far as he knew the Government had no real land settlement scheme so far, and the best step would be to support the Hawke’s Bay remit. Mr I. L. M. Coop; Wo are asking the Government to define a land policy, but without our assistance it might not be too good a policy. I move that we ask the Government if they will accept our assistance before deciding on a policy. Mr K. Hall expressed his support for Mr Macfarlane’s suggestion. Mr Bishop: The' returned soldiers have a very good policy and you know how much notice the Government has taken of that.

After some discussion. Mr Coop's motion wus carried. The Hawke’s Bay resolution was not adopted. The motion will be sent to the Dominion Executive of the Union as a recommendation.