SOLDIERS' PROBLEMS.

Evening Star, Issue 18057, 26 August 1922, Page 8

SOLDIERS' PROBLEMS.

ANY OLD PRIDE FOE LAND. COLONEL M'DONALD'S REPORT. REVALUATION AND RENT REMISSION RECOMMENDED. The -principal business at a meeting last night of the Otago District Centre of the B.S.A, was the report of Colonel M‘Donald (president) on his tour of soldier settlements' in Otago and Southland!. His report contained the following as outstanding points militating against the success of discharged soldiers’ settlements:— (1) Excessive prices paid for property in most cases, with consequent excessive rentals. (2) Unsuitable subdivision of the settlements, holdings being either too small or disjointed. (3) Not sufficient cropping land, in proportion to high snow-affected areas. . (4) Land in many instances unfit for soldier settlement, even at no rental. (5) Insufficient capital advances by the Government to mate it possible to tide over a period of depression, even without rent (6) Land selected in unsuitable end difficult localities, when there is ample suitable land in suitable localities, at reasonable prices, available. (7) Buildings taken over with property which are in some cases absolutely useless. (8) An apparent lack of appreciation of the important fact that land for soldier settlement will not stand a penny more being paid for it than tho productive value of the land at normal times, because, whereas the original holder of the whole settlement had to capitalise only one house, one set of outbuildings, one plant, and considerably less fencing, on which to pay or allow interest, the same property subdivided 1 into, say, twentythree sections, as Clifton was originally, means that a less area of land (tire area icquired for reading having to be deducted! has.to be capitalised with fl-nd produce sufficient to pay interest on twentythree houses, twenty-three sets of out- | buildings, twenty-three plants, and conI sidc-rably more fencing; and last, but not I least, it has to keep twenty-three manI agars, their wives, and families. For | these reasons it must be apparent that i only on land which is purchased at abso- | lute bedrock price can it be possible for [ Soldier settlement to he successful. This proves conclusively the seriousness of ac- ! (jaii-in;; land for this purpose by private purchase-, and paying any old price for it without regard to the Government’s own valuation tor taxation purposes, and apparently with little regard for the success of the 'scheme or ike interest of the discharged soldiers instead of taking suitable land compulsorily and fixing the price by arbitration under the Arbitration Act. (S) The method of purchases at inflated values was, in my opinion, largely responsible for the lands having been weighted with a tremendously excessive value, running, I believe, into many millions of pounds: and the Government must immediately face this fact, unpleasant though it be, and remove the load by writing down the land to its real value. (10) To. enable (9) to be given effect to, an immediate revaluation of the land is urgently necessary, ami I contend must bo given effect to or the whole scheme is doomed to niter failure, which will carry many gallant men in its train. (1.1) A total remission of took rentals is imperative, as also in many cases is a remission of future rentals until the soldier settlers get on their feet. The serious plight- of the soldier settlor was tempered by the cordial relations which I found to exist between tho men and the Commissioners of Lands. Many appreciative references were made by the men to me of the sympathetic altitude generally adopted by the Commissioners towards them, they often specially mentioning our local Commissioner (Mr -Sadd), who they consider has done the best in his power fop them.

Mr L. S. Graham (Invercargill) expressed the appreciation of the soldier settlers in Southland for the very fine work Colonel M'Donald had' done. It was quite apparent that there was only one way to get over the difficulty, and that was the way suggested in the report. He moved—“ That a very hearty voleof thanks be accorded 1 to Colonel M'DonaJd, and that the centre endorse his conclusions, expressing the hope that he will bo able to be the means of matters during bis visit to Wellington. ’ Mr J. D. Forbes (Oamaru) seconded 1 the motion, and, in doing so, invited the colonel to visit the North Otago district, promising him interesting discoveries at Bcnmore. Messrs A. Myers (Invercargill) and R. B. Banncrman (Gore) supported the motion, which, on being put to the meeting by Mr Forbes, was carried by acclamation. Colonel M'Donald was then empowered to visit Wellington and to bring his report under the notice of the Government. He staled that he would visit Benmore on his way north. COMMISSION OP INVESTIGATION. The Minister of Lands (the Hon. D. H. Guthrie) intimated, in answer to a request that the association should be represented on a commission to investigate soldier settlement, that it_ was not intended to appoint a commission, but to set up a board in each land district, whose function would be to consider all cases of discharged soldiers who, an tenants or mortgagors to the Crown, might require special assistance. Ho could not, therefore, see his way to appoint a member of the association to each board or give any section of the community special representation.

The Secretary reported _ that a latter, which contained the following clauses, had been forwarded to headquarters The district considers the attitude of the Minister in this connection to be very disappointing, and his intentions to be not what wore originally promised or what is desired. What is required is a general inquiry into the whole circumstances of land purchase for soldier settlers throughout New Zealand, with a view to ascertaining whether revaluation, and we hope consequent reduction in rental, is not justified. . . . Tho land boards, as at present constituted, have power to grant special assistance to men in the way of oostponing the payment of rent, etc., and, in addition, tho proposed boards would deal only with necessitous cases. 'Hie action of the secretary was approved, and tho opinion was expressed that the proposal now made by'the Minister was superfluous.

DISTRICT COUNCIL. THE MOSgTeL CASE. A meeting of the District Council was hold. The Chairman (Colonel M'Donald) reported that .satisfactory arrangements had been made in regard to the secretarial duties in connection with the district, Mr ' A. C. Laing, secretary of the Dunedin R.S.A., having undertaken to perform the work for £25 per annum.—lt was decided to confirm tho president’s action. Headquarters wrote forwarding a recommendation from tho Standing Executive that a meeting of the Dominion Executive should not be held in September on the grounds of economy and because there were few matters for discussion.— It was reported that the secretary and president had written and wired protesting against tho recommendation. —The opinion was expressed that it was necessary to have the conference, as it would represent the last opportunity of meeting tho present Government.—The meeting unanimously approved tho action of the president and secretary.'

Tho dismissal of a returned soldier after biflng employed for three and a-half years by the Mosgicl Borough Council was introduced by a letter from the Taieri Returned , Soldiers’ Association.

The Taieri delegate (Mr Watt) said that, although the council could not move until it was seen what would be tho result from the public deputation to the council, his association thought it advisable to explain the full position. Describing the deputation to the council early in the negotiations, lie said that the council had been taken .by. surprise. Evidently the council expected the ordinary deputation

of three or four men. The association went along forty-two strong, which was three more than their financial membership. (Laughter.) There was no seating accommodation, so they sat on tho floor, (More laughter.) The president had not spoken more than a few words when the mayor jumped np with tho alacrity usually associated with the application off a pin to the anatomy. (Laughobjected to the word “ victimised in the newspaper mention of flio mutter, and asked that it be withdrawn. The deputation left tho room, and decided that the word should not be withdrawn. When they returned the mayor declared tho meeting closed. (Laughter,)

..'LH Chairman expressed the opinion that it would be better to take no action in the meantime.

Mr Forbes thought that all public bodies should bo urged to retain whenever possible the services of returned soldier's. He moved in that direction,, and tho motion was carried.