NOT READY YET

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3139, 6 July 1942, Page 5

NOT READY YET

REHABILITATION SCHEME

SETTLEMENT ON THE LAND

REMARKS BY MR SUTHERLAND

' During the debate on the Soldiers’ Settlement Scheme in the House of Representatives recently Mr A. S. Sutherland, M.P. for Hauraki, pointed out that the Rehabilitation Board was not yet ready to settle returned soldiers on the land. However, it would soon have to wake up, as large numbers of soldiers were returning.

The failures that occurred in soldier settlement schemes after the last war should be forgotten and not repeated, and the many* successes remembered. Many millions would have to be spent. However, a few millions spent on a good progressive rehabilitation scheme was worthwhile.

Men who had no experience on the land, and who wished to take up farming, should be given a probationary period at standard rates of pay for two. or three years on some of the Crown development schemes. If after that period they still wanted to go on the land they then could be allotted a section. If the Government intended settling 3500 soldiers on the land yearly, a lot of money would be required. However, if money foi housing was procurable at 1 per cent., it should be available for farm settlement at the same rate of interest.

Mr’ 'Sutherland, maintained the Lands Department was the department that should be handling the Soldier Settlement Scheme. They had the staff, the experience and ability to handle the matter. The Lands Department, as as he could find out, knew very little about what was going on in soldier settlement schemes of to-day.