SETTLING RETURNED SOLDIERS.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13933, 16 July 1917, Page 8

SETTLING RETURNED SOLDIERS.

DISCUSSION IH PARLIAMENT.

PREMIER AIMS AT 5000. ut •; WELLINGTON, July 13. The greater part of this afternoon 's sitting'was occupied, with a discussion respecting the settlement of soldiers on the land.

In reply to a number of suggestions from members, the Prime. Minister stated that lie hoped before the session ended to introduce legislation to enable groups of soldiers who desired to do so to take up blocks of land and work it together and obtain assistance from the State for the purpose. After reviewing what already had been done to promote the settlement of soldiers, Mr Mnssey s!(iil: "I am in t a position .to say, that more has been done in New Zealand with the object of placing soldiers on the land than in any other country of the Empire, I do not say tho same remark will hold good two or throe years from now, or say that Oiir past efforts arc any reason for going slow, What T say,.however, is that we should endeavour to make provision for placing live thousand soldiers on the land, and possibly more—(hear, hear)—lint if we can place 5000 on the land we shall be doing a very good thing.