RETURNED MEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 30, 4 August 1943, Page 4

RETURNED MEN

LAND SETTLEMENT

SEVERAL BLOCKS BOUGHT

Several blocks of land suitable for the settlement of returned soldiers had been bought lately and negotiations for other blocks were going on, but the Government would not buy land for soldiers in the backblocks or land that people wanted to get rid of, said the Minister of Lands (Mr. Bai-clay) in the House of Representatives last night during discussion of the Lands for Settlement Account. , Recently he had had a heart-to-heart talk with the Commissioners of Crown Land throughout New Zealand and had told them, if there was land in their districts for sale that would be suitable for returned men, then they had to be on their toes and be there and get it, but that did not mean that the Government would take over land where it would mean that difficulties would be transferred from .other men to returned soldiers. If any members knew of any areas in their districts considered suitable for returned men which were for sale the Department would investigate the position immediately. UNSUITABLE LAND. "A lot of the areas that have been offered to us are unsuitable," added the Minister. "We will have to go! further than we have gone. At present we have a big area already in grass ready for settling men as soon as we can get carpenters and materials to build houses on the land. Moreover, we have other' areas partially developed but on which we have had to go slow as we could not get labour or fertilisers, We have a big programme in front of us, and members will hear more about that before long." PROVISION FOR ALL. Replying to the Acting Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Poison), who asked what areas the soldiers would secure and whether those who had enlisted for overseas service but had not been sent away would receive the benefit of | rehabilitation, Mr. Barclay said that provision would be made for all soldiers whether they had gone overseas or not. Not many returned men had been discharged who were suitable to go on the land, but the State Advances Corporation had made loans which had placed 70 or 80 men on farms. The areas considered suitable were 400 to 500 acres of sheep country, though this would vary according to the district and whether it was mixed farming. The dairy farms would be capable,of running 40 to 50 cows. LAND FOR ALL. "Surely there is enough land in New Zealand to settle all our boys who come back and desire land for settlement," said Mr. Barclay in reply to. a suggestion to the contrary from Mr. F. Langstone (Government, Waimarino). During the last hundred years New Zealand had developed because of land settlement and primary industry. Opposition members: Private enterprise. "They have had assistance from the Government as well," replied the Minister. He believed that for many years to come the primary industries would continue to be the main industries of the Dominion, and he thought there was sufficient land to carry a lai*ger population than there was today. Referring to the suggestion that land should be bought immediately, he said that the Government did not want to buy large tracts which it would have to farm itself. When it was necessary the Government would get land. It had hundreds of thousands of acres, and it would have to get more, but there was no sense in buying it years before the servicemen required it. It had been made clear by the Minister of Lands that the soldier was to be rehabilitated and not the land owner, said the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry). If the soldier was to be rehabilitated holdings would have to be reduced considerably and he must not be given poor land, with no amenities, to eke out a crust, It might be found necessary to experiment in co-operative farming. That was an important consideration, as it might be found that men returning from the war would prefer to work together as they had fought together. OPPOSITION'S ASSISTANCE. Mr. Poison said that all sides of the House were unanimous in their desire to do the very best for the discharged servicemen. All wanted to see these i men put on land at prices that would enable them to succeed, and he would join with the Minister in making an appeal to owners of farming land to offer that land at reasonable prices. "We on this side of the House are just as anxious as the Government is to see that the soldiers get the squarest of square deals," added Mr. Poison. The Opposition would assist in any measures that would rehabilitate the j servicemen and give them the amenities that made country life worth while. If the Government had in mind the purchase of land along those lines, the Opposition would be in entire agreement. The Minister of Supply (Mr. Sullivan) thanked Mr. Poison for his intimation that the Opposition would give full-hearted support to the policy that would secure the best results possible for the returned men. He felt sure that it was the wish of everybody that,.there should be no repetition of the difficulties that followed the settlement of soldiers of the last war, when, due to the high prices paid for land, so many of them, after struggling despex*ately, came to grief and broke their hearts. The aim of the Government was to see that the land was not bought at too high a price and that it was bought at a productive value price that would give the soldier a first-class fighting chance to ensure his own economic security.