SOLDIER FARMERS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 225, 19 June 1936, Page 7

SOLDIER FARMERS

Difficulties Considered By R.S.A. SERIES OF RESOLUTIONS Difficulties met by returned soldier settlers and the changes affecting them brought about by recent legislation were discussed by the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association Conference yesterday. The lands committee suggested that further representation should be made to the Government in support of the request that each individual soldier settler should have the choice between staying under the control of a land board or going over to the State Advances Corporation, to which request the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash, had been unfavourable when interviewed by representatives of the association recently. The committee further recommended to the Government that, in the event of the mortgages under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act being transferred to the State Advances Corporation, the services of the land boards be retained for the purposes of administration. The president, Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., said it was a little late to protest at soldier settlers having to transfer to the control of the State Advances Corporation, because the Act providing for it had been passed. He had protested in the Legislative Council without success. Something might be done along the lines of retaining the services of the land boards.

The proposals were adopted by the conference.

The following remits also were adopted * — “That headquarters of the N.Z.R.S.A. be urged to press for clearances in writing for all men who have been forced to abandon their holdings under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act. “That the Government take over, where required, all mortgages given by discharged soldiers to mortgagees other than the mortgagee under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act, and bring such mortgages under the provisions of that Act.” “That in view of the price for farming produce being fixed to meet present and future commitments, all arrears owing by ex-service men to the Crown should be remitted.” . - , “That interest on all returned soldier mortgages to the Crown be reduced to the low- current rate of interest.” “That where the Crown acts upon its right to demand a proportion of butterfat receipts of soldier settlers, such right be restricted to the hnnual charges to the Crown in each individual case.” “That land boards should immediately advise Crown tenants of any fault the board has to find in the conduct of their farm.”

“That where the budgetary system is put into operation provision be made so that the ex-soldier’s allowance will be progressively increased with the increased returns on the farm from the same capital outlay.” “That soldiers’ pensions be not taken into account in arriving at the allowance to be granted to soldier settlers under the present farm budget scheme.” “That the time has arrived when returned soldier mortgagors and tenants should have their liabilities to the Crown reviewed with a view to placing them on such a basis as to enable them to pajj their way, live comfortably, and gradually reduce their indebtedness.” “That representations be made to the departments concerned asking for provision for greater expedition in making progress payments to soldier settlers obtaining loans for improvements.”