Land for Returned Soldiers

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 255, 28 October 1942, Page 3

Land for Returned Soldiers

GOVERNMENT POLICY WANTED Reference was made by Mr. W. Chadwick at a meeting of the Southern Hawke’s Bay provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union to the necessity of making provision for the settling of soldiers returning from the present war on the land. Now that the men were coming bacK it was time they were looking foxland for them, he said. He understood that the Government had land available, but the trouble was that the people did not know what was the land policy of the Government in regard to men returning. TJiey knew from the Rehabilitation Committee what money was available, but they did not want these men to go to the open market and buy land at a high price. They wanted to try and freat each man evenly and fairly and avoid the mistakes of the past. The president (Mr. G. Canxmock): The Dominion executive have been hammering at this matter for some time and set up a committee to go Into it. Mr. Chadwick: It there is land available we should be able to finance the solcxier cheaply upon it. The president said they wei'e waiting for a statement from the Government in regard to their land policy and the Government was still being heavily hammered at by the Farmei’s’ Union. Mr. H. T. Ellingham: Unless the Government brings down a land policy 1 don't think we, as private individuals, have much hope of doing anything. Mr. Chadwicks The Government are not treating us fairly. Let us kick up a noise. We are only asking for a policy for the men who are away spilling their lives for us at home. The thing is wrong. Mr. Ellixigham; It is wrorxg. The president: Have you any suggestions, Mr. Chadwick? Mr. Chadwick: We want the Government to define a land policy. We are not asking them to give us the land—only a lead. When their policy is put out we are entitled to discuss it. He moved: “That every provincial executive in the Dominion be written to requesting them to ask the Government to define their land policy for men returning from the present war, as we consider returned soldiers are entitled to a piece of land.’’ Mr. C. R. Redward, who seconded the motion, stated that the Returned Services’ Association was also taking this matter up. Mr. Chadwick said that with the assistance and co-operation of the R.S.A. they should be able to achieve something. The motion was carried unanimously’.