SOLDIER SETTLEMENT IN NELSON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 27 May 1927, Page 7

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT IN NELSON

Open letter to the Right Honourable J. (J. Coates, Prime Minister ol New Zealand. — Sir, - 1 have tho honour to bring hefore your notice the question of the settlement of discharged soldiers oil tho land in the Nelson hand District. In expressing the opinion that the settlement of soldiers on the land in Nelson has been a ghastly failure, 1 feci sure, that such an expression of opinion is in accordance with the general opinion of the public of Nelson. A great, number ol soldiers, finding it impossible to make a living from their holdings, have already abandoned their farms. Probably the tragedy associated with some of these cases ol abandoned farms, cannot now be. repaired. Some soldiers still remain on their farms, and although it may be possible! that some of them are established on a sound business basis, 1 rather think that in a. large number of cases, the soldier.-: still remaining on the land, are placed thereon, on an impossible basis. It seems to me that the soldiers arc keeping the farms instead of the farms keeping the soldiers. J'or seven years or (hereabouts, the soldiers (not forgetting their wives) have been struggling 10 make a living, and in many cases have lived most frugally and have led a hermit-like cxi&tence, and i;i addition they have possibly used their private capital, which will be lost, unless something is done in the direction of affording relief. In order that a repetition of the tragedy of abandoned farms as in tho past, may b? avoided in the future, it is contended that there is urgent necessity-for immediate action being taken by the Government of New Zealand so that tho remaining .soldiers may be placed on the land on a sound business basis. There is also a contention by returned soldiers on the land, that while they have been struggling along, they have been victimised by officials of the Lands Department. 1 believe such a contention to bo true. Interest, for periods of six months, on money advanced by the Lands Department, is due. on Ist January and Ist July. It can be shown I hat in one. case, interest from Ist January to 31st March of the same year, has been collected weeks before .such interest, became due on Ist July. In regard to the same case, the Dominion Revaluation Hoard determined I hat rent for £72 6n 4d should bo postiionod for pavment free of interest, until 30th Juno'l93o, and rent for £76 10s should bo similarly postponed for payment until 30th June 1933. When certain money received on account of the salo of wool, etc., was paid in io the Lands Department, the officials of tho Department, sometime in 1926. applied the sum of £l4B 16s 4d in payment of this postponed rent, and the soldier concerned has had to borrow such sum and pay 7 per cent, interest thereon. Further examples of victimisation can be given. The object of this loiter is to publicly bring before the nut ice cf (ho Government of Now Zealand, the unsatisfactory slide of affairs in connection with tho settlement of discharged soldiers on the land in Nelson, and 1 herewith ap. peal to you to take such action as will ensure (hat the, soldiers will then bo placed on the land on a sound business basis.—l have the honour to be. Sir, votir obedient' servant. JAMES PAGAN. Kohntn. 24th May.