SECTIONS FOR SOLDIERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16600, 25 July 1917, Page 6

SECTIONS FOR SOLDIERS.

THE NEGLECTED NORTH.

LAND AWAITING SETTLEMENT.

[BY TELECRArH— CORRESPONDENT.]

WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The settlement of soldiers on the land was referred to by Mr. V. H. Reed (Bav of Islands) ,„ the House of Representatives to-day. He complained that the present organisation was inadequate. He thought a great deal more might be done *in settling soldiers on the bush areas in North Auckland, but these areas would have to be roaded before the soldier-set tiers were sent there. Large areas of bush country were now locked up under the national endowment svstem, and this class of land was not asked for owing to the unsatisfactory tenure. The men would not go through the hardships associated with the work of making these lands productive unless they were given the hope of obtaining the freehold. The national endowment lands were at present lying unused. Conditions could, if necesarv, be insisted upon which would prevent* the accumulation of lands.

Mr. Reed made some comparisons regarding the prospects of land settlement in the North and South Islands. A Southern member interjected a question regarding Government grants to Ihe North, and in reply Mr. Reed referred to the case of Hokianga, which, he said, struck the maximum rate allowed by law on the unimproved value, and this* produced £8000 a year. If the Government paid rates on the Crown lands the countv would "et an additional £6000 a year, the countv had never received that amount in grants Returning to the soldier settlement problem, Mr. Reed contended that the North was not receiving the attention desired. To locate a soldier in the Auckland district cost £920, as compared with £4870 in Canterbury. To place 15.000 soldiers on the land in Canterbury would cost £73,000,000, against to settle a similar number in Auckland. It was not good business, he contended, to neglect the bush areas of the North.' It would be more profitable to settle men on these areas than on highly-improved land. He advocated the opening up of the Urewera native district, affirming that at the cost at which that land could be acquired, it would pay the Government, to put a railway into it. The Auckland Land Board, ne contended, could not cope with the work it was called upon to do. It had to deal with more bush country and more country waiting f or settlement than any other land in the Dominion.

Mr. Reed summarised his suggestions regarding the settlement of soldiers a* follows:—(1) Thi creation of boards of farmers to select applicants according to their experience, and see that each applicant had a reasonable chance of succeeding. (2) Immediately preparing all Crown blocks of land for selection by surveying into sections and making at least one arterial metalled road through each block. (3) Giving the option to acquire the freehold of ill soldier lands, whether the tenure had to bo changed from national endowment or any other class of Government leasehold. (4) Acquiring unoccupied native lands by Government purchase. (5) Giving preference to soldier applicants for sections in the district of their homes or former residences.