UP AGAINST IT.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2006, 23 December 1921, Page 5

UP AGAINST IT.

RETURNED SOLDIER SETTLERS. DEPARTMENT "PUTTING ON THE SCREW." It is obvious that at the present time many returned soldier settlers who acquired farms under the repatriation scheme are in a serious financial position. I'nless something is done by the Government to help them out, many will have to leave their farms on the. Department's hands, and get out. This matter was discussed by the executive of the Palmerston North branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association last evening. The subject was brought up by a letter from the Whakaronga branch, asking the executive to endeavour to arrange for the Minister of Lands (Hon. D. H. Guthrie) to visit Whakaronga and meet the returned soldier settlers of that district.

The chairman (Mr J. W. Rutberfurd) suggested that as Whakaronga was not the only district affected, it would be better to ask the Minister to meet representatives of the settlers in all districts at the Soldiers' Club. Ho mentioned that the settlers at Cloverlea were also vitally interested. These settlers could give the Minister facts and figures which he could never stcure through correspondence with the association. Mr Rutherfurd drew attention to several cases of hardship which had come under his personal notice. Mr H. N. Cooke: Are all these men giving the Department a fair spin? We must see that we are on the right side and not taking up the cases of men who are not trying to pay their dues. Unfortunately some cases of this kind have occurred.

The chairman replied that only one case had so far been taken up by the association and that had been authentic. The man in that case had received only £39 to live on last year and.the Government had complained about his paying his grocer's bill and not paying them. Mr Cooke mentioned that at the Wellington district conference it had been affirmed that a man should be allowed a stated amount out of his returns to live on.

Mr L. Bryant: Some of the settlers won't pay. The chairman:. But I don't think anyone would suggest that the men who won't pay are in the majority. The trouble is that the affairs of the settlers are being administered from Wellington by men who know nothing of the local conditions. They are hidebound by one set of rules and make them apply to every case, whatever the circumstances are.

Mr Cooke: There is no doubt the people in Wellington are putting on the screw unnecessarily in many cases. Mr T. H. P. Davey (Whakaronga): The men in my district cannot carry on as they are. Mr Cooke: And the tendency is foi, matters to get worse instead of better. Mr Davey: With butter-fat at 2/6 and with reasonable luck we could Just manage to scrape through. At the present prices it is impossible for. us to carry on.

The secretary (Mr W. J. Rutherfurd) mentioned that much good work had been done by Colonel Mitchell, M.P., in this connection for the soldier settlers in the Wairarapa. He had inspected all the settlements ir that district and had supplied a comprehensive report on the question to a Wellington paper. He had written asking Colonel Mitchell to do a similar service for the settlers in the Manawatu. Mr Davey: He seems to be the only man in Parliament who is doing anything at all for us. The secretary's action was confirmed and it was agreed by members that publicity was the only thing which could force the hand of the Department in the matter. It was decided to fall in with the suggestion of the chairman to ask the Minister to meet representatives of the soldier settlers arid go into the whole question, as well as to visit the different settlements in the Manawatu.