SOLDIER SETTLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18827, 30 September 1924, Page 5

SOLDIER SETTLERS.

Sir, read in. the Hzejccd of ■ 24tK V inst. reports by the commissioners *>f Crown' lands for. Auckland and North Auckland districts, concerning discharged : soldiers' settlements. May. : I, as a soldier settler, be permitted to make some \ comment on ; these reports. ~ Regarding ■ the North Auckland district, Mr. Lowe's remarks are most reasonable and fair, but regarding the .Auckland district " Mr. Marsh is very ;: wide ;of ' the mark in--deed fa some of his statements. 'J. maintain that all ;. soldiers who have toiled:" on their sections for three to five years are triers, and .the number of non-triers, ; if there were ; any, j would ;be easily dis- : cernable by their butter-fat retains,. Also, it '.mil be found that in most cases , the ; returns have 'shown wonderful yearly : increases (of which incidentally tie idspartment 7 gets ; its full share by taking anything up to 50 per cent, of the soldier's cream cheques if he is in arrears with interest). In-' cases where there has been a decrease during the last year ' I would like to point out that -if the matter were investigated it ,-•:: would :■. be 0 found ; to••'■ be- due, not to the hope of : : .'.- fooling the Revaluation Board, as M:.-; : Marsh : plainly . suggests, but to f&£*. adverse circumstance such as outbreaks of _ stock diseases, or bad climatic con-; ditions, .which"j have seriously hampered a lot of settlers during; the last year. •;'.■■ I-.- ■ think it 'will be found that in 99 cases; out of 100 the ranger's reports ■ will tell a story ;of - thrift and ability : instead •of ' l the, lack of these qualities, as set forth by the commissioner for : Auckland dis- : trict.- '»-■■"»..- 'v" Waikato SOLDEEE.