CLIFTON SETTLEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 17429, 12 August 1920, Page 4

CLIFTON SETTLEMENT

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION MAKE REPRESENTATIONS TO LAND BOARD. At this morning’s sitting of the Otago Land Board a deputation from tho E.S.A.. consisting of Dr Harrison (president) and Mr (.'. U. M'Lean (secretary), attended to make representations with‘regard .to the Clifton Settlement. Dr Harrison said that the council representing all the returned soldiers’ associations in Otago rmd Southland had bcon told that the Clifton Estate was to be shortly thrown open to ballot bv other than returned soldiers. If that was true, the District Council wanted the Land Board to_ hold their hand awhile, until the association in Balolutha had met the settlers on the Clifton Estate, and also until the .settlors and the association of Laiclutha had met the Land Board in regard to the matter. Balolutha. was to have the Farmers’ Union out to Clifton to interview the settlers and see over the estate, and an invitation would be sent to the Laud Board to interview the settlers and any representatives L-hey might deem fit to meet. Until such interview took place the District Council asked the Land Board to keep Clifton open to returned soldiers only. This was the first estate opened for settlement bv retumed men in Otago, and there were only eight settlers on it. It seemed as if there must be something wrong with the estate when 14 or 15 sections were not taken up by the soldiers. The District Council and the association wanted to get at the root of the matter and see where the fault lay and remedy it. Clifton should b© a good settlement for returned soldiers. Mr Sadd (chairman) said it was true that it had been recommended and affirmed that the vacant sections should be opened to the public. The soldiers were not torward _to take them up, and som© of the soldiers who were on it were asking for increased areas, and the board decided that, as the soldiers did not seem to want the land, it should be opened to the public to see if they wanted it. Dr Harrison remarked that one or two of the soldiers who had been on the estate had retired. Various reasons had been given by returned soldiers as to why the land had not been taken up, and the District Council did not know whether the fault was as to th© land, the men, or the board. Mr Sadd said tho board would discuss the representations made. Mr Inder remarked that the land had not been given a sufficient trial to Justify the board or anybody else in coming to a decision. The only man who got to work made a handsome return for the year. The board were prepared to do anything for the soldiers, but a fairly large price was paid for the land, and it could not be allowed to lie idle for all time. Mr M'Lean said that the association would like to find out why other men had not made “a do” of it. The board discussed the matter, and resolved to_ hold over the opening ol the vacant sections to the general public, and to meet the R.6.A. representatives, the settlers, and tne Farmers’ Union on the ground on Friday, the 27th inst.