DISASTER ON THE LAND

Evening Star, Issue 18031, 27 July 1922, Page 8

DISASTER ON THE LAND

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ PUGET,

A COMMISSION RECOMMENDED.

■The position ofthe returned eqldlers on the land was discussed at last night's sitting of the Farmers’ Union Conference in Wellington. The matter was brought up by notice of motion, by Captain Colbeck (Auckland). Captain Colbeck said that a number of returned soldier settlers in Ids district had approached him, and, had asked what the Farmers’ Union intended to do t° assist them, “They think it is up to tho union,” he said, “ to giro a lead in tho matter. I think so, too. Many men, after returning from tho war, have met with disaster on tho land. Some took up land at too high a figure, and others were placed on unsuitable land. Some thought a small Commission .should be set up in each district to deal with tho position of each soldier on the merits of his case.” Tho President (Air W, J. Poison) said he was satisfied that the returned men in New Zealand had had better treatment than returned men anywhere else in tho world. It was splendid to find what a largo percentage wer actually doing qriito well, in spite of tho slump, and holding their own. In nearly every case of distress that he had come across the settlors had bought th© land privately. The number of forfeitures ol land had not increased abnormally in New Zealand. Mr J. Bitohener, M.P., said that practically all failures in his district might have'been avoided if local advice had been secured.

After further discussion, tho conference ‘iavried the following motion, proposed by the president and seconded by Mr J. P. Johnston (Southland); —

That this conference congratulates tho Government upon the good treatment that returned men have received at its hands. Wo also desiro to place on record our admiration of the .way the majority of the returned men have- made good under adverse circumstances, and request tho Government to sot up a small Commission to go into individual cases of hardship, with, a view to their removal, such Commission to bo assisted by local committees. OTHER, REMITS.

Other resolutions earned are; That when tho revaluation of a district is mad© the local bodies shall have, on tho petition of a majority of the ratepayers of each riding, the right to have such riding revalued. That the basis on which tho unimproved value of land in New Zealand is calculated.. is arbitrary and unfair. The alleged exhaustion of the value of improvements is too rapid. Improvements of many kinds ore not taken into consideration. No credit is given to settlers for the fact that they • have contributed by way of rates for interest, repayment of loans for loading, and other public works in their district.

That, as the super tax on land was admittedly an emergency measure, imposed as a war tax, and was declared to be only a special and temporary experiment, we strongly urge that it should now bo abolished.

That this conference appreciates what tho department has done to prevent the spread of cattle tick, but would like to know what steps are being taken to prevent horses and dogs from carrying the tick into clean areas.