SOLDIER SETTLERS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 211, 3 June 1944, Page 6

SOLDIER SETTLERS

Every reference made by members of the Government to the settlement of ex-servicemen on the land somehow lacks conipieiiensivcness The Prime Minister stated some time ago that he did not regard the question of the freehold as one of any great importance, but the Minister of Rehabilitation, speaking in the north recently, said that it was intended, with respect to blocks now being developed for settlement, to grant renewable leases. He added, however, that in cases where servicemen desired the freehold the Government, intended to adopt a form of controlled freehold, similar to that devised by a private land development company in the Waikato during the depression. Does that mean that men who get a block of, say, Matanuku, or the adjoining properties in the Putaruru district purchased in recent years, will have-an option, or will it really mean that men willing to accept the renewable lease tenure will get pieterence? « The great advantage of the occupation with right of purchase policy was that the occupier gradually made the place his own. It provided an incentive. Will men, taking up a holding under some form of lease, be able to do that, or will they be bound to the leasehold whether they so desire or not? Further, there were large areas purchased for settlement purposes before this Government ever assumed office, such as Galatea. Will tins leasehold svstenit be applied to the subdivisions of these blocks or wil the men be given a choice with respect to tenure? Why should there be any doubt about these matters? Galatea was acquired for settlement on the usual conditions and should be so dealt with. The so-called controlled freehold was devised to apply to land developed by, and allotted to, men who had been unemployed. hey were given 'reasonable working conditions and every encouragement, and many of them have succeeded. They could bring to the task little but their ability to work, and the promoters of the society responsible for the undertakings felt .that, while the occupier:,J™ 1 ’ in the event of their property being sold, have a claim J 1 ® value, plus that of whatever improvements they had made, they should not be free to sell at whatever price they liked and could get. Their status, however, differed greatly from that of men who, having served the State in war, desired to settle on the land- 1 . men have already given most valuable service. Jhe Canadians haie recognized this by approving a land scheme under which subject to the performance of prescribed conditions, wi one grant equal to one-third of the cost ot the land and but d gs., and another in cash for stock and plant. *1 here is, of c 7. r £’ a q ’ cost to be incurred by the State, but this reduction of the capital chai will undoubtedly be a great benefit to the Canadian setters Here it apparently is proposed to impose on men who have seve 1 n the forces the limitations deemed justified by a society wnt « nished the money to provide employment for idle men on thep perties acquired. Public opinion will certain y favouitle etmucd men being given the most generous terms possible, and the same ights as other primary producers.