NO APPLICANTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 118, 12 February 1920, Page 4

NO APPLICANTS

A SCHEME THAT FAILED.

About 10,500 acres of unimproved bush land in the Mongonui district, comprising- the Takahue-Whangapc and Pareokn'wa blocks, was set aside by the .Minister of Lands (then Mr. Massey) in 1917 for the purpose of improvement by returned soldiers, who were to work under the supervision of experienced managers prior to the allotment of the sections to them. The idea was that the men should be enabled Ito earn wages while acquiring experience and breaking in their holdings under expert direction. The cost of the improvements they effected would be capitalised and added to the value of the holdings. The svsteni, which has often been recommended to the Government, did not appeal to the returned soldiers. No applications were received for work on the land, an'd after waiting two years to see if the ideas of tho returned men would change, the Minister of' Lands decided b' yield to the requests of ex-soldiers w'm wished to take up the sections in the ordinary manner, each man making his own improvements with, the aid of the advances authorised by the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Acts. The land, therefore, was subdivided into 37 holdings, aiui was allotted by ballot among returned soldiers on January 22.