SOLDIER FARMERS' RENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16583, 5 July 1917, Page 4

SOLDIER FARMERS' RENTS.

PETITION FOR REBATE

Netb sections at Awakino, in the Kaihu Survey District,, Lave been taken up by returned soldiers Trader tho Government; settlement scheme. The men now find that the lack of communication is hampering them seriously, and have drafted * petition asking for relief. Tho petition states /'ant the farms ares 12 miles distant from .Oargaville by an impassable road.: There is, however, plenty of metal available for roadmaking. It states also that the sections are covered with heavy bush, and that much work is required to bring them ,nto order. The timber cannot be sold, according to regulation, for less than 9d per 100 superficial feet, while this f.m ; cannot be obtained for it, 6d per ;'0 being the highest quotation. Tho petitioners state that they are highly grateful for assistance already "given, but "they ask that a road be formed and metalled to give' them access. They ask further for a re- v bate of two years' rent, and for permission to sell the standing rimu and kahikatea timber on their sections at a raw-: mum price of 6d per 100 superficial feet. The petition was read at last night's conference of soldier settlers at the Soldiers Club, when a delegate explained,! with regard to the timber, that though | the settlers could not sell it for less than the present minimum, they could fell itand. burn it in clearing the land. The : conference decided that the petition should be forwarded by the Auckland Returned': Soldiers Association, and on the gentral | question of rents carried tho following' recommendations:— m "That the Government be asked to grant to all landholders in soldier settlements a rebate of 12 months' rent in the case of improved land, and two years in" the case of unimproved sections,"the rebate to be retrospective, and not to be added to the capital value of the land, provided always that the holdings are occupied' and improved to the satisfaction of tig District Land Board." i i