LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10110, 18 October 1917, Page 5

LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

(Fbom Otjb Parliamentary Repobter.) 1 WELLINGTON, Oct, 17. The Discharged-Soldiers' Settlement Bill was passed by the Legislative Council today Speaking on this BUI, Sir Francis Bell said ho thought a great deal of nonsense was being talked about the Tight Of the discharged soldiers to bo placed upon improved lands with easy access. A certain proportion of tho men wanted land of that class but he was convinced tho great majority of tho soldier-settlers would prefer to'go on to unimproved o r partially unproved land and reap for themselves the harvest of hard work. II was the deliberate policy of the Government not to proceed with'tho construction of roads and other improvements in advance of the settlement of lands to be occupied by soldiers, Ihe men would be given an opportunity to do the work themselves for wages. Money for this purpose would be available when the war was over, and the work would help, to absorb the returned men during the period of demobilisation. Sir Flrancis ridiculed the ■suggestion that all the men were cbminff back with broken health and shattered nerves The mass of them would return after the war fitter than they were before tney enlisted..