SOLDIERS’ FARMS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 215, 5 June 1924, Page 7

SOLDIERS’ FARMS

PROGRESS OF REVALUATION “EVERYTHING WORKING SMOOTHLY” STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER In a statement on the work of the board which is revaluing soldiers' farms, the Prime Minister said that everything was working smoothly, and the board was fully alive to the necessity for expedition.

BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. Dunedin, June 4. The Prime Minister made' the following statement to-day to a “Daily Times” reporter on the progress of reinitiation of soldiers’ farms, the statement covering the work of the Dominion board to the end of May : — To the present time 1774 determinations have fxsen issued. The reports from the 23 district committees operating throughout the Dominion have been coming to hand freely, and to cope with the work the board has found it necessary to r.it continuously. The field work of committees, in the smaller land districts is nearing completion, and in the near future the whole of the work in such districts should be disposed of- It will be some months before the field work of the North Auckland. Auckland, and Wellington districts W'H be completed, notwithstanding that eight committees are engaged in this district. It has been stated that determinations were not bein’’ issued as cases were dealt with. This was contrary to fact, as all determinations were issued as soon as possible after each sitting of the board. Tho determinationS in each case went from tho board to the settler, and a copy of same was sent to the Commissioner .of Crown Lands for th* district for action in accordance with the findings of the board. The board had a free hand in the matter of reductions, and its determinations in this respect were final. Postponements and Remissions. Postponements and remissions of rent and of instalments and interest outstanding at June 30, 1923, also come within the jurisdiction of the board. Remissions are. not general, and are only granted in necessitous cases. The general policy of the board is to grant postponements for suitable periods, not to grant remissions. It would be unfair to settlers who have paid their way, many at considerable sacrifice, if their neighbours who had for various. reasons been unable to keep up. their payments, were granted remissions. The board always endeavoured to see that those settlers who had made the most of their opportunities were not penalised as compared with other settlers in dealinn with outstanding arrears, if the board considered that relief should be given subsequent to June 30, 1923, it made a recommendation to the Land Board accordingly, as in the case of the dry areas of Canterbury and hush lands The board had been successful in numerous cases in obtaining a reduction or discharge of private mortgages, while a number of second mortgages had been purchased at a discount where the amounts were small, but large private mortgages were not being acquired. Advances for stocking and improving. Regarding additional advances for stocking and improving, the board had no jurisdiction, as power to finance for such purposes was vested, ip the Land Boards and tho. Minister of Lands. Some. settlers were under the impression that the board could authorise additional advances on current account, but all such requests should be made to the local Land Board. . - ■ ■ Everything in connection with the business of revaluation was working smoothly, and the board was fully alive to' the necessity for expedition. Special cases, of course, received special consideration, such as the Hei Hei settlement near Christchurch. This land was purchased with a view of settling T.B. men, the land being drv and suitable to their health. -As proof of this, there had been no returns to hospital of any settlers. The settlers stated that in the event; of revaluation the possible small, amount of the reduction would not assist them and ther agreed that the building instalments were fair, and that they had the use of cheap money. In order to med the nosition. the board recommended that three years’ rent, amounting to £3OO. and three years interest on advances, amounting to £743. be remitted to tire ten settlers and the Minister of Lands had approved of this proposal.