SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 85, 12 April 1920, Page 5

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

CONDITIONS IN MARLBOROUOH?

DISCUSSED BY FARMERS'

UNION

It was mentioned by A. D. Lo» at the meeting 0* the Marlborough of die Farmers' Union on, oaturuay that tiie i-'an-iotie As&oeiation had entered upon still another "rally'; in behalf of soldier settlement in Marlborough. The neglect to which tins district had been subjected by the Government in this matter was a perfect disgrace. He asked the Union to come into linewith the Patriotic Society in connection with the renewed agitation to secure justice.

Members agreed that no effort should be spared to urge the case* for Marlborough. The methods cf the Government land - purchase authorities were strongly criticised. The manner in. which properties available for settlement were inspected was ridiculously cursory. The responsible ofheer came to the district in a hurry, "looked over" 6COO acre* or so in a few hours, and then said that the land was too dpar, or was otherwise out of the question. It was a kind of an automatic process. Immediately* following on the rejections by "the Land Purchase Board, thousands of acres had been. "snapped up" by experienced. farmers at prices substantially m advance of the prices at which they were offered to the Government.

But there was something to be sok! on the other side. Certainly the Government had bought some properties, and it had also to be borne in mind that the Government had to stand the risk every time.. Apart from the fact that there was a not inconsiderable proportion of men who were unfitted by experience or temperament for farming, but were going to try their luck at it at the expense of the Government (to pay nothing of tl|e absolute "wasters"), it was obvious that many returned soldiers were not quite "playing the game"—that was 'to say, thjey were not putting a penny of their own into their land ventures. They were withholding all their own> capital, and indulging in a form of gambling on the strength of the Government assistance.

'It was realised, though, that it would be impracticable to discriminate in a hard-and-fast way. Nor was it possible to set up a preference in favor of the men wiio volunteered for active service.

The main facts, it was a£p*eed, were that a large number of deserving men in Marlborough were waiting anxiously for opportunities of getting a footing on the Innd, and that larg| areas of suitable land were available in their own district for that purpose. It was resolved to support to the utmost the Patriot^ Association's campaign in this direction..