FULL INQUIRY

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 10, 12 July 1922, Page 9

FULL INQUIRY

RELIEF OF SOLDIERS BOARD OF PRACTICAL MEN THE PRESENT POSITION. It was announced by the Minister of Lands (the Hon. D. H. Guthrie) in the House of Representatives last [ night that ho' was recommending the Government to set up a. board of practical men to report on every soldier settlement, with a view to granting relief. "■"I have discussed with the Prime Minister the financial position .of returned soldier settlers," said Mr, Guthrie, and, as I have already announced in this House, it has been decided to give the fullest consideration to the question of granting such relief as will enable those who are making an'earnest endeavour to succeed to overcome their present difficulties. It is a most difficult problem to tackle, for the reason that all the soldiers are uot in similar financial positions, and what relief is necessary in one case might not be necessary- in an:'other. The case of each of the settlements will have to be decided on its merits, taking into consideration any special disabilities, whether local or general, under which the men may be labouring. "In order to do this, 1 am recommending the Government to set up a board of practical men to bring in a report on every soldier settlement throughout the Dominion. This will enable the Government to arrive at a conclusion as to i the relief that should be granted in ! different localities. I havo decided on this course, because I think it is the only one that will meet the position." Mr. Wilford: "Another Commission." Mr. Guthrie: "It has been hinted in speeches that have been made in public recently that the , Government should announce some definite policy to relieve the soldier settlers, and not merely make expressions of sympathy. An examination of the position will show conclusively that very much more than .sympathy has been shown right from the inception of the scheme. Where men have found difficulty in paying their rent or interest, postponements have been granted without interest 'and without loss of rebate, in order that the position of the men might be reviewed when the prices of produce and land values arrived at a stable point." Mr. Wilford: "Will this board report before the election?" Mr. Guthrie: "It will have a heavy job in front of it.. In referring .to revaluation in a speech a few days ago, the president of the Returned Soldiers' Association suggested on behalf of the settlers that the Department should arrive at a definite basis on which to effect revaluations, by striking an average prico for produce over the last twelve years. I am greatly afraid that if tho suggestion were given effect to it would not prove advantageous to the men. During that time prices reached an abnormally high level. It is quite evident that those who took part in the discussion that led up to the president's suggestion had not the remotest idea of what the result would mean to the soldiers. In fact, it was merely a leap in the dark in the endeavour to arrive at some conclusion in the matter. I think the suggestion I am making to the Government will meet the position, and is the only means whereby the present difficulties of the soldier settlers can be met."

Mr. Guthrie said he admitted that some men had been tempted to/ buy Ihnd at high prices, but that had been under clause 2. He was thinking that it might have been if they, had never had that clause. , NO REVALUATION YET. Mr. Guthrie dealt fully with the position of land settlement, with particular reference to the settlement of soldiers. He stated that'as the result of his visit to "the Wairarapa, he was convinced that the soldiers there were doing very well. ' The Leader of the Opposition had stated that the only solution of the present position was the revaluation of land. The Leader of.the Opposition: "I referred to a revaluation of the land of which the Government is the mortgagee." The Hon. Mr. Guthrie:. "Well, I do not agree with you." The time for revaluation might come, but it had certainly not arrived yet. It was the policy of the Government to give every man a chance. He admitted that some of the soldiers were weak and incompetent, but a great majority were honest, hard workers, anxious to make good. The House need have, no fear regarding the administration of the Soldier Settlement Act, but it was to be regretted that some holdings, which did not lend themselves to subdivision, had been purchased. The Government was now using what money it had to clear off the most pressing cases calling for assistance. EXPENDITURE AND LOSSES. Tho Government had spent £8,792,560 in the purchase of private land, and had advanced £3,966,633 for the purchase of stock, etc. Town houses had involved the sum of £7,785,543. .The actual losses to the Government on properties foreclosed to date were £461 on farm properties and £640 on town properties. The whole position was absolutely satisfactory. The total sum remitted to date was only £21,247, and rebates totalled' £69,565. The total sum expended under, the Lands for Settlement Act, Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, and the Repatriation Act was £28,564,375. The soldier forfeitures since the inception of the scheme were: Number of leases 314, area 60,249 acres, and rent lost £18,735. The facts showed that the Government had acted economically and well.