POSITION OF SOLDIER SETTLERS

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 August 1927, Page 6

POSITION OF SOLDIER SETTLERS

COMPARES FAVOURABLY WITH

CITIZEN SETTLERS

REPORT IN HOUSE.

WELLINGTON, Last Night.

“ Given normal seasons and average prices for prbduce there is every reason to believe that the position of soldier settlers to-day, compares morethan favourably with the average soldier settler.”

This paragraph appears in the annual report of the chairman of the Dominion Valuation Board presented in the House of Representatives today commenting on various problems with which soldier settlers have been faced.

Chairman J. B. Thompson that there was one common disability" during the year just closed —-the fall in the price of butter-fat was felt by, all and sundry throughout the Dominion. Most districts experienced good climatic conditions and to some extent the fall in price was made up by increased yields.

” The Board cannot stress too* strongly.” the report states, "the necessity for the application of up-to-date in the handling’ of farm propositions. The best insurance ag-ainst the effect of lower values, of produce is the careful selection of animals, herd-testing and drastic culling, care of the milk producer through’ proper feeding, and the provision of shelter. It has to be recognised that farming of any kind cannot succeed through slipshed methods and thetime has arrived when the science of farming must be the constant study of those engaged on the land.”

The Board states that there is : every hope that (he causes of the pres, ent feeling of depression are only ai phase and will of necessity adjust themselves. The Government had' given a lead in adjusting soldiersettlers’ lands to what was considered" to be an economic level and it wasfelt that if the basis of that adjustment was applied to private lands--values would be established and confidence restored.