SOLDIERS ON THE LAND

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 46, 22 February 1917, Page 8

SOLDIERS ON THE LAND

SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT GRANT BE INCREASED?

. At the meeting of the Board of Advice of Patriotic Societies to-day, Mr. W. P; Kirkwood (Stratford) urged that the Government should be requested to increase the advance of £500 to returned soldiers going on the land to £1000. He moved to 'that effect, because anyone who went into the matter at all would know that £500 was an absurdly inadequate amount; and even of that £150 was earmarked for a dwelling. For a 200-acre farm to carry sheep £1200 was barely sufficient; for a dairy farm, of 80 acres (with land ait £20 to £25 per acre) £1000 would certainly be required ; and, in order to obtain a return of £200 in the second year on rough .land,* thenS£.l2opf-at least would be needed. It Khtt" to be resmembered that tho £500 was an advance, not a grant. The Government held a security over all the man had on his place, and if he had to place himself in the hands of the Philistines by raising further money by second mortgage, then he would certainly have to pay a very high rate of interest. It was all yeiy well if the advance of £500 was made to a man with a little money; but if the advance was to bo made to help men who were moneyless, then £500 was quite useless. He had quoted only £20 to £25 per acre for dairying land, but that was for back country land. As a matter of fact, dairying land in Taranaki was worth £50, £60, £70, £80, and more per acre. It was well to remember, too, in this connection that many of the returned men might not be physically able to work on rough bush land.

The discussion was proceeding as The Post wont to press.