Grey River Argus and Blackball News FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1922. SOLDIER SETTLERS’ HARDSHIP.

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1922, Page 4

Grey River Argus and Blackball News

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1922. SOLDIER SETTLERS’ HARDSHIP.

Delivered every mo. ning in ;jit F - x rL- Gtika, Dobson. Wallseud Tayiv,. .ii.e. Crui. »un Ngahere. B .icki ail, Ndson Creek, Biunner, Tr Kingha h.-toinanu, Poor’- InchbonjHe. Pataca. Ruru, Kainiaia, Kotuk. "I. ana. Aratika, Runang<t Dunollie. Coixien. Baxters Kc-kiri. Ahaura, Ikamatua. Stulwatei. Vaiuta, Kee!lon, Rous, Rua’.apua, Mananui, H.iri Hin. Waiho Gorrfe, Weheka. Rewanui, Otira. Inangahua Junction, Westport. Waimangaroa, Denniston, Granity, Millerton. Ngakawau. Hector, Scddon villc. Cape Foul wind, and Karamex

When the Government was- buying hind al fancy prices in. connection with its .soldiers' settlem-ent scheme, objection was rightly raised that the land vendors were going to do better out. of it than very many of the men whom ii was ostensibly designed to benefit. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. We now find that the men who were asked to undertake the obligation of ] >aying off tin l liabilities on areas purchased at poor prices arc prevented by llie slump conditions from meeting their obligation. Air Massey has often expatiated on the success of • the soldier set ilenieiit scheme, but time is not bearing out his enlogium. We learn that a number of soldier settlers on tli<’ West .(.’oast who look up land under the scheme are menaced at present with, the dire possibility of losing tneir holdings immediately. They have, in .-Jiori, received from the Government, notices to quit their lands at the end of the present month. Therefore, in | in once more questioning the wisdom of 111' 1 < '(iverneient's land settlement methods, we are not .speaking of diiiicullies of soldier settlers in other provinces, although it is only too wellknown that many elsewhere arc cither dispossessed of their holdings' already, or are destined very soon to be. The facts on. the West Coast, we submiih,~flie already tendering io bear out criticism which, in common "with many others, we made protest against, the lavish prices paid on wholsalc purchases of land by the Government just when I he iiooni i n. agriculture*, dairying and stock raising and rtin its course. It was evident from the outset that the land owners got the most bcnelit from 110 scheme, and it is possible that many of them will be. now found buying bark lands at. the slump prices. However, there are. many ex-soldiers who have taken up Crown kinds, and it is surely far from wliat anybody 1 (.xjieu.ted when we now hud the stale pjcpared to evict these men. Such,

however, is the position, we believe in certain cases on the West Coast. Many will recall the land settlement policy of this country in days gone by, which 1 set up so many people as properous settlers, and ■which did not spoil its own success by evictions at critical times. The R.S.A.. branches may Hunk themselves \ warrairted in advocating more immigration, but so fur as the West Coast Branch is concerned wo believe the members will prefer to study first the interests of their own members including those on the land. The Government deserve to be told in no uncertain terms that evictions are quite uncalled for, andwil 1 be resented in an effective manner when; the opportunity for so doing presents itself. There should be strong repcresentations made at once against aify ejections of soldier settlers, who deserve to be given a better chance than most of them have received to make good on the land. It takes a life-time under any circumstances to transform bush country, such as that on the Coast, in to prolitabo farms, ami it is a travesty on economy to turn down settlers after they have been on the land here only for a couple or three years, especially is this the case in the time of a slump. Every wise administration makes special provision for settlers in such critical times. The present Government to give special help to establish farmers who arc better off. and therefore why not to the struggling settlors who have newly embarked on virgin country We therefore trust that the local R.S.A. will assert themselves and stand by their comrades, who have taken land up on the Coast. The public ■will doubtless give their moral support to the utmost in any effort made on behalf of them.