The Star. THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1919. LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 22 May 1919, Page 4

The Star.

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1919. LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Oellwen;d every evening by 6 o'clock in Hawera, Mmia'a, NormaDby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Eaponga, Awatuna, Opur.akc, Oiakeho, Manutabf, Alton, Hurley, ville, Patea. Waverley.

There was some interesting discussion at Palmerston North on Monday between representative men of the district and the Minister for Lands on the subject of the purchase of lands for soldiers. The Minister, Mr Guthrie, had to listen to a rather long indictment of the Government, in which sins of omission bulked quite as largely as those of commission. There were complaints of delays due to official circumlocution, and complaints of failures to snap up lands of good quality which, though they were of high price, were really fair bargains. It was mentioned, as an example, that a block offered to the Government for a soldiers' settlement at £65 per acre and refused was subsequently divided, one part being sold to a good judge of land at £80 per acre, and the balance realised £67 per acre. The Minister was told frankly that it was deplorable that this bargain had been allowed to slip

through the fingers of the Land Purcha>se Board. There were other complaints of a similar character, and some anxiety expressed as to whether the soldier settlers were likely to receive good advice and help; all put forward, however, not so much in a, spirit ot irritable criticism as to convince him of public anxiety that no opportunity should be lost of serving the soldier, and of public fear that the machinery in use was cumbrous and slow. Particularly, he was urged tp enlist more local advice and initiative. Mr Guthrie was frank and sympathetic in his reply. He admit led that the criticism offered was not altogether unreasonable ; but, on the other hand, he dwelt on the complexity and difficulty of the task he had in hand. He said the Department was up against the most diffi r cult problem with which it had been faced in the history of the Dominion. Numbers of men were coming back whom doctors had recommended for an outdoor life, and they eventually turned to the land. These men needed instruction in agricultural work, and the Government had set apart several holdings for instructional purposes. The Department had also found positions for men with ordinary farmers, who employed them for what they were worth, and the Department made up their wages to the level of other farm workers. He had always been in favor of purchasing high-priced land for soldiers, and was strongly against sending men into back-blocks settlements as they had to give the men who had fought for them a, chance. He had been doing all he could to strengthen the Purchase Board, and had appointed j a capable man in each district to assist in assessment. He was willing to allow an advisory eomnnifctee of local men to help. With regard to the purchase of stock, etc., applications had been callad for a man to supervise each soldier settlement. The man would be picked for his experience on all farming matters, and he would be a friend to the settlers and give them expert advice where needed and be employed for no ofcher purpose. In connection with I the delay, the clause stipulating a three-months 7 option had been deleted, and it was anticipated that no further would take place. It had also been arranged to double the number of Land Board meetings, which would further minimise the delay. It will ,€nerei fore he seen that the Minister is freely receptive of helpful advice, and there i are good reasons for hoping tkat progress will be accelerated. Commenting on the discussion, the Manawatu Times describes the situation in a few sentences, which seem to us apt and likely to receive pretty general endorsement. It says: "The soldier settlement question is hedged round with difficulties. Those who know anything about the business end of farming have no delusions about the matter. Of the returned soldiers who are placed on y the land the percentage of failures will be large. The percentage of failure of those who go upon the land under normal conditions is larger than is generally realised. In th c case of the soldiers it will, naturally, be maximised, and not minimised. A farmer, to be successful, must, if be buys land at present prices, tje shrewd, industrious, experienced and lucky. Any old person can 'go oa the land/ but it is a hazardous venture for the novice. The State is taking a large risk .open-eyed in the case of the soldiers, because popular sentiment favors that -course, That sentiment dictates that these men hav c taken risks for us, and that w e must reciprocate, "■