SOLDIER SETTLER WALKS OFF

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 28 June 1926, Page 10

SOLDIER SETTLER WALKS OFF

HOPELESS FA PM PROPOSITION

A returned .soldier farmer, who had walked off his farm in the King Country, because he could not make it pay, attended his first meeting of creditors at the Official Assignee’s office at Auckland on Thursday, says the Star. His name was George Alfred Wynne, and in his sworn statement lie said he had taken up 1054 acres 61 bush country in the Waimarino County, near the Wanganui River, under the Returned Soldiers’ Settlement Act. He felled and grassed 350 acres, and made other improvements. The property turned out a hopeless proposition, owing to the inaccessible nature of the country when opened' up, and the fact that after three years in grass the land reverted to second growth. The Government had advanced £1450 on the property, and he had put all his money into the farm as well as £BSO advanced by bis father. In 1925, bav. ing no money to carry on with and not wishing to incur any more debts which he conld not see his way to pay, lie walked off the place and informed the Grown Lands Department of what he had done. The Government's valuation of his property was £2IOO. The Department had, according to 'bankrupt, admitted that the place was hopeless, and that they could neither sell it nor lease it. They had refused to give him any consideration for money or labour he had spent on it.

Bankrupt’s schedule showed that he was owing £1034 to unsecured creditors, and £1450 to secured creditors, a nominal surplus of £650. * In answer to questions put to him by the Official Assignee, bankrupt claimed to be an experienced farmer. He was 3‘2 years of age, and had a wife and two children. He returned from the war at the end of October, 1918, oil the- hospital ship Mnheno, and was still receiving a pension of os per week. He - did not think his war troubles militated against him making a success of the farm, although at times he had been off the place on account of sickness. ' .Wynne’ stated that lie had been farming, before he had gone to the war, on sheep and hilly country. He had had a look at the block before going on to it. There were 64,000 acres in the whole block, and there were about 10 men left on it. AH those who had not maple a. “do” of things had been experienced farmers. The Government had sent_ a. revaluation commission to see his property, and that body had suggested that he should receive compensation and be given another place. But this was. not done. Bankrupt had obtained an outside expert’s opinion concerning his property, and had been advised to get out. His living expenses had cost him about £2OO a year. He had put approximately £SOO of hts own money into the farm. As there was only one creditor present no resolution was passed.