ECONOMIC PENSIONS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 111, 6 November 1929, Page 6

ECONOMIC PENSIONS

COMMISSION RESUMES

SETTLING DISABLED MEN

POULTRY NOT ENOUGH

The hearing of evidence was resumed yesterday by the Economic Pensions Commission, consisting of Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., Sir John Luke, representing the Ivational War Funds Council, Rod Cross and St. John's, and Mr. S. J. Harrison, National Secretary of the E.S.A.

Tho Gommission. is to inquire into and report on: (1) The present condii tion and. circumstances of disabled soldiers, their approximate numbers, the nature of their disabilities; (2) the adequacy of the sources at present I available and the sufficiency of the , methods of alleviation whether by pcfli- : sion from the Crown, allowance from funds for the purpose, land settlement, : establishment in business, training, '■ treatment, etc.; (3) the best means of utilising their remaining capacity to cii- ■ able them to support themselves and dependents; (4) where no means aro | likely to enable such persons to live by their own efforts, the best means of assisting them; (5) principles of classi- \ fication; (6) necessity for legislation to enable all or any recommendations the Commission may make to be carried . into effect. The following evidence was given by John Henry O'Donnell, controller of accounts for the Lands and Survey Department, who has been associated with soldier settlement from its inception:— TOOK ON TOO MUCH. "The majority of soldier settlers have been settled on sheep, mixed farms, or dairy farms. Following adjustments- in values and mortgages ■by the Dominion Revaluation Board, there is now a more hopeful outlook than previously. Unfortunately, a number of -the soldier settlers were inexperienced and physically unfit to carry-on I farming on a comparatively large scale, ; and before further deterioration in properties set in it became necessary to realise. Some of tliese soldiers were subsequently placed on other properties more suitable to their physical condition. As a means towards assisting the settlement of partially disabled men on small farms there is ample authority in the Land for Settlements Act w-hich enables tho Government, on the recommendation of the Land Purchase Board, to purchase and subdivide properties. Tho purchased properties could be set aside for settlement by soldiers under Section -1 of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, 1915, and allotted by v the Land Board to : selected men. Further, a small group of men can. under the Act of 1917, by negotiation, arrange for the purchase of a property they consider suitable to their needs, and, on agreeing to ; a scheme of subdivision, they could apply to. the Land Board for loans on mortgage to enable them to complete the purchase from tho vendor. There is authority to advance money to individual soldiers to finance them in tho purchase of land, and during tha past few years the Department has settled men of a disability of 50 and over. I do not know of any Crown lauds in the Wellington Land District that would bo suitable for the settlement of men not physically able to carry out hard and sustained.work."

To Sir John Luke the witness said that the areas which hail proved toolarge were more individual holdings than those taken up by groups. Ho wou]<V;_encourage the settlement of men of evenover 50 per cent, of disability without hesitation, provided their intentions were of the- right character. He did not think it would be a gain to allow three years for the payment of rates and rents, as most of the properties taken up were fairly advanced in development, and should be brought to a paying basis in twelve months. He would not suggest poultry farms except as a side line. SUPPLEMENTING RETURNS. "Although many men have been successful on small farms, by supplementing their returns with outside seasonal labxmr," continued Mr. O'Donnell, "I am afraid that some of them look to the properties to keep them, consequently the whole of the revenue is applied to living, and the Department does not receive its rent or interest. In my opinion successful results from small farms depend largely on the personal element, and in this respect the wife plays an. important part. I may mention that .capital for the settlement of discharged soldiers has been borrowed, and it is the duty of the Department to see that this capital is safeguarded as much as possible, and is interest producing. In the settlement of partially disabled men it is probable there will be little prospect of any return to the Department during the period of establishment. It may be suggested that if good land is purchased in close proximity to the main centres there should be no reason why lands should not be revenue producing after twelve months, excepting perhaps, say, fruit farms not in. full bearing. Arrears for twelve months might be capitalised if enhanced value warrants- such, but I am of the opinion that capitalisation beyond this period tends to 'overburden properties.' "With the support of pensions corresponding with physical disabilities it is probable that those men who are still fit to undertake the management of small farms will find themselves in a position to meet their obligations after twelve months. Beliance on their own efforts, resulting in an improvement of their own and their families' wellbeing, should give them a more cheerful outlook on life." •' OVER-HOSPIT ALIS ATION. '' Mr. Barton commented that "overhospitalisation," a new word to him, conveyed the attitude acquired by soldiers who had been-over-nursed, overdoctored, and over-impressed with their position as disabled men. He welcomed the idea of soldier farmers mixing with farmers who were not soldiers, indeed, getting .away from the undoubted mental influences of the group system for disabled men. The inimical influence of such associations was recognised in hospitals. "I, however, do not think (continued the witness) that they could pay the rents or interest to the Department without pensions being continued unless specially gifted for certain forms of'small farm, work not entailing too much labour. Cancellation of pensions followed by inability to pay rents and interest would be equivalent to tho Department providing pensions out of capital corresponding with deficiency in rent and interest. CENTRAL AND GOOD LAND. "If land is.to be purchased lam of tho opinion it should be of the best quality and situated "in tho vicinity of large centres of'population. It seems to me that group settlement is preferable to community settlement, but, in my opinion, there is no real benefit in group settlement over selection or purchase by the individual of his own section. In either case the farm must bo equipped with the necessary farm implements. In tho general soldier settlement scheme the Department tried out the ;joint ownership of the larger farming implements, which was not successful. There was no party really responsible for the care of the implements,, and^gerallj. it was-found,that

all required them at the same time. The soldier who selects his own farm has an advantage over group farmers as tho adjoining farmers invariably assist and advise the soldier settler.

"Tho Department is mooting with some success with the settlement oi! selected men on small areas for which purchases were arranged privately -with Government finance. The occupiers in a group of farms could obtain the advice of tho expert officers of the Agricultural Department, but it is probable that tho man who purchases his own farm in a good locality would receive support from his neighbours and in a short time tieconies an established man in the district, and forgets about his war troubles. He would speak and think in terms acquired through* association with his successful neighbours." TAILURE PERCENTAGE. Of 722 discharged soldiers who took up small farm .sections near towns and cities, there were 179 failures, or 24.8 per e'ent. Iv 164 poultry farmers there were 62 failures, in 120 small fruit farmers 23, inl3o market gardeners 17, in 308 miscellaneous farmers 77. Most of the men who had depended solely on small poultry farms, and had not otherwise added to their incomes, had not done. well. . j Mr. Barton: "You agree with some witnesses we have heard that success in poultry farming is largely theoretical'!!," —"It isreally only a side-line." COST OF ESTABLISHMENT. "The estimated' cost; of establishing a partially-disabled soldier in tho localities mentioned (continued Mr. O 'Donnell) would be approximately £1250, that is, taking ton acres of land at £50 an acre (£soo]f, buildings £500, and advances varying- frori £100 to £300 for fencing, stock, implements, etc. In my opinion the-class of farming to bo undertaken should bo confined to beefarming, -'market-gardening, flower growing, and. small fruit, tho income from which could be supplemented with a few cows and poultry. y SUMMARISED CONCLUSIONS. "In slimming up, my conclusions are as follows:—-There is sufficient statutory authority at the present time to assist partially-disabled men; (2) good lands may be purchased in the vicinity of large centres of population, or disabled men/encouraged to negotiate for the purchase of their own farms in suitable localities, supported by loans from the Department; (3) only men with experience and a reasonable amount of physical fitness should be assisted; (4) the Department's capital funds should not have to bear losses through failure to pay rent or interest during the period of establishment."