SOLDIERS ON THE LAND.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13983, 20 November 1917, Page 2

SOLDIERS ON THE LAND.

COMPLAINTS FROM AUCKLAND,

. DEPUTATION TO MR* JIASSEY

AUCKLAND, November 17,

Several ninlfa:s relating Id the set-, t'ement of re.urncj soldier;; on (lie land wore brought 1 before Air Alassey by a deputation from the Returned Soldiers' Association, the chief subject being complaints regarding tlifi quality and valuation of some of. the sections ■occupied by soldiers on tho Reynolds estate, near Cambridge.

[ Mr Mtasey said that if a soldier got on a section on which he found lie could not make a living, the only thing to do was to endeavour lo put him 011 something better! "We are not going to bind thorn down to these sections," ifddcd the Prime Minister, who went on to s.'iv It at lie 'understood the Reynolds estate was purchased just at the inccp■'icn of the'scheme lo settle soldiers, and it was very doubtful whether soldiers would take up the sections, which was why f.oinc were set' apart for ordinary settlement.

The Reputation replied Ihnt the trouble was that tiie best sections wore set apart' I'or ordinary settlers, iUr Sheet, tho Ctoivn'Laiiils Commissioner, said. Ilia! the Land Board had if ranged to inspect the settlement next wen!*, Some of flic seel inns required,'.t ?reat ileal of development, and the nrico varied from below £l4 to £3G an we. '

T''p Prime. Minister explained tlu;!, on the whole, the soldiers' settlement scheme hud proved very successful. There were at,present 311 soldier? on the land, while about 40 hail failed for one reason and another. He thought 'here were more' 'dilliculties in the way of putting settlers on the .land in the Aueldajid province than in some pther Harts of New Zealand because in'man,v of the other places' there was' natural 'ced on the land,' For that reason l|o thought many soldiers .were right i" ielestihg rJieep farms rather than dairy country.

Tin? deputation assufptl the Prime Minister thai there was a vcrjv keen niil growing desire on the pari cl' sol-' licrs to go on the land. Air Jlni'sey assured lhe : deputation lint the Government' and the depart,-, ''(int were out tp help, tho men in 6very w-ible u-riy,. and lo remedy any just grievances.. -v " .■' '