LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16761, 30 January 1918, Page 4

LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

OTAGO ESTATE ACQUIRED. TOTAL AREA OF 31,500 ACRES. ' [ay telegraph, association.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Prime Minister stated to-day that the Government had purchased for the purpose of a soldiers' settlement a property in Otago known as Teviot, consisting of 12,500 acres freehold and 19,000 acres Crown leasehold. The greater part of it will be cut up into sheep farms. A considerable portion of the estate is suitable for agricultural purposes, and good crops have been grown on the property during the present season. A small proportion is suitable for fruitgrowing. This is looked upon as one of the best of the large holdings now remaining in the South Island. THE GOVERNMENT CRITICISED. BALCLUTHA FARMERS' VIEWS. [BT TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DUNEDIN. Tuesday. The Government's policy in regard to the acquisition of land for soldiers was severely criticised to day at a meeting of the Balclutha branch of the Farmers' Union. The chairman. Mr. John Christie, said the Government had "made a bungle" of Clifton as a settlement for returned soldiers. He referred to the negotiations for the Teviot Estate, and went on to say that he noticed the Government had purchased Gladbrook. It was quite a mistake ■ for the Government to be buying land at | present in this indiscriminate fashion. They were simply relieving the big squatter of his responsibility in the war of taxation after the war. Why did they buy theso large places at all? The Government certainly did not come along and purchase small property, no matter how many sons the owner had at the front. There v,-as any amount of land available for returned soldiers in the country, without buying these large estates. He did not believe the latter were being bought for returned soldiers at all, but simply to relieve wealthy people, as lie had stated. Mr. Throp said the agitation for the purchase of these large estate;! came from the people in the towns, who knew nothing about the land. A motion was unanimously carried drawing the Government's attention to "the danger of acquiring large properties at the present inflated values of both land and stock, and paying for same in war bonds free of income tax." The resolution further recommended the Government to purchase smaller improved properties, and to cut up pastoral runs in Otago, the leases of which will be falling' in shortly.