SOLDIERS’ LAND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21850, 22 October 1945, Page 4

SOLDIERS’ LAND

DISTRICT DELAYS

SETTLERS IN WAITING

PROTEST TO MINISTERS

Since last week’s meeting at which servicemen graded as capable of taking up farming propositions under the rehabilitation scheme registered a strong protest at the failure of the Government to provide settlement opportunities in this district, a provisional committee has been preparing an expression of the Views of the men for submission direct to the Cabinet.

It is proposed to present to the_ Ministers of departments concerned in the settlement policy a clear statement of the experiences of the men since their return from service abroad, and the difficulties they have found in getting a footing on the land. The statement also will cover certain aspects of the settlement scheme as they affect servicemen in this district.

The provisional committee has endeavoured to give expression particularly to. the desire of a large proportion of the men now awaiting settlement to get on the land in the raw. At last week’s meeting the opinion was almost unanimously in favour of the opening-up of land on which the individual settler might have the chance to create his own equity, and it was the general opinion that men now seeking settlement on the land cannot afford to wait until the Government carries out its declared intention of bringing land to full development before placing servicemen thereon. A meeting of the nrovisional committee will be held at the Soldiers’ Service Club next Friday morning, to complete recommendations which will be placed before a general meeting of graded men which has been set down for the afternoon. It is probable that the general meeting will be invited to co-onerate in sending a deputation to Wellington to present the statement on behalf of intending settlers.