LAND MATTERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 144, 19 June 1936, Page 4

LAND MATTERS

SOLDIER SETTLERS

REMITS APPROVED

Various problems facing returned soldiers who became farmers alter the war were considered by the annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association yesterday afternoon when remits dealing with land matters were discussed.

A remit asking headquarters to press for clearances in writing for all returned soldiers who have been forced to abandon their holdings under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act was carried, although the committee that reported on the remits did not recommend it.

A remit from the Northern Wairoc Association asking that the Government should take over, where required, all mortgages given by dis-

charged soldiers to mortgagees other) than the mortgagee under the Dis-' i charged Soldiers' Settlement Act and i bring such mortgages under the provi- : sions of the Act, was adopted alter < the words "wherever, the amount of 1 such mortgage is within the limits of j the valuation acceptable under the : Act," had been added. i A remit asking 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, was carried. Another. "That interest on all returned soldiers' mortgages lo the Crown be reduced to the lowest current rate of interest" was also carried. Other remits carried were:— "That where the Crown acts upon its rights to demand a proportion of the butterfat receipts of a soldier settler such right be restricted to the annual charges to the Crowii in each individual case." "That land boards should immediately advise Crown tenants of any fault the board has' to find in the con-, duct of their farms." |

"That in all cases where the bugetary 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. ,, I "That soldiers' pensions be riot taken into account in arriving at the allowlance to be granted to soldier settlers. 'under the present farm budget , ! scheme." ' "That the time has arrived when re- t turned soldier mortgagors and tenants should have Iheir liabilities to the Crown reviewe'd with a view to placing them on such a basis as to enable _ them to pay their way, live comfortably, and gradually reduce their indebtedness." . "That this committee considers that representations should be made to the Departments concerned asking for provision for greater expedition in making progress payments to soldier settlers I obtaining loans for improvements."