GISBORNE SOLDIER SETTLERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 August 1924, Page 3

GISBORNE SOLDIER SETTLERS.

MAJORITY MAKING GOOD. Some interesting observations wore thp de in b-V i J j Bm . Kel]s > chairman of the local Revaluation Committee, regarding the soldier settlers in the Gisborno. district. He expressed the beliet that the great majority of the settlers were triers and really good men, but there were many who lacked experience AYlien the men came bade trom the front there was a. demand that they should be nut ou the farms and men with little or no experience, out with a small amount of capital’, uere placed on the holdings. Then followed the slump period, and those men who lacked experience were harder nit than men who thoroughly understood fanning. - There; was no doubt that much of tlm land had been bought at oriees which were too high. Revaluation showed that. But he did not think that the Government was greatly to blame. It was just an unfortunate result of a time when everyone was receiving boom prices and thinking in boom values. Another effect of the boom prices uas that some of the buildings were made rather on the small side. He had an extensive knowledge of farming m this district, and ‘it was his opinion that- on oresent-dav values a farmer required to have 1000 sheep or 30 cows in order to make a decent living. SUCCESSES ON THE COAST. Of the soldiers’ settlements in this district, Air Kells thought that those oil the coast bad proved the best proposition. The soldiers on the Hiirukia settlement had been giyen fairly de-cent-sized holdings, and ft lio.v were now using well. Tlio I’aron.ata’ settlement ban also been a good purchase, and on the reduced values the settlers there should du all right. Many of the solciJor .settlers with ulinin ..the roimnit tee had come in, contact had complained of the smallness of their holdings, and had told the Committee that iliev should reduce the capital value to "such an extern tjiat the result would represenl a good living ter the soldier. The Com. mitteo. however, were unable to accept this view, and based their estimates solely (mi the present value of the land. Questioned regarding the AYaiocka country, Air Kells said lie was reluctant to express an opinion at present, in view of the fact 'that a commission woiilid shortly be inquiring into the position. He could say, however, that there was a considerable area which had been felled and grassed, and which had been going back steadily into fern ano coarse grasses. There were a good many settlers affected, including a few soldiers, but the whole position would be thoroughly reviewed when the commission issued its report later in the vonr.

In conclusion. Mr Kells expressed the belief that the majority of the settlers in Poverty Bay would now make good. There were some who held small areas of land hardly sufficient to give them a decent living, but r.s time" went on it might he possible to increase some of these holdings and thus iiieiea.se their earning. After a complete survey of the district h* could say that the settlers, and this included those who lacked -experience, were a very fine body of men. As in all irndes and professions, experience told in sheepfarming, as many of the settlers had found to their cost. Ho thought that most of the settlers were, satisfied with their revaluation figures, and that, all were making a genuine endeavour successfully to farm their holdings.