A SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10063, 30 August 1918, Page 7

A SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

GRIEVANCES. AT, TE MIHO.

Press Association. HAMILTON, August A large and enthusiastic meeting. was held laft night under the auspices ot the Sate-Keturned Soldiers- A^ ciation, with the object of ventilating grievances of soldier settleis at were given by Mr gampson. (chairman of the Te 3/bxo t *»Wm» Settlers’ Oaptam Peak (of tho Cambridge banners Umon), and Mr Hammond (president of tm e Waikato Sub-Frovinoial District Fanners’ Union), all condemnatory ot the : department. The speakers, considered that the major portion of the property was quite unsuitable for soldier settlers for dairying under present conditions. There was no grass, and the land was overrun by fern; there were no roads, and some of the section® were ‘ without water. Babbits /-vote a- menace. ■ Soldiers had taken up tlte land, believing the Government s state ment that it was suitable, and it wag urged* that the Government must koefc faith. 1 . -0 -,■ •• ~.' . : ,

■ The following motions . wore caw 1 ried: — , - ■ ■ ■ ■■ - ■ That a revaluation he made of set> tions held by settlers at Te Miro, an* that a committee, consisting of Captain Peake and- Messrs Hammond,Sampson, and a representative of the Government, be appointed te make a valuation. ' ' ■

That in view of the existing conditions at Te Miro, the Minister tor Lands bo requested to arrange for a revaluation of sections, ■ that compensation be paid to dissatisfied settlers, and that they bo offered a fair wage for daily work or be employed by contract for a period of two years in improving the- sections. It will be necessary for buildings and fencing to be erected to make the sections suitable for dairying, and at the end l of that period the settlers should be \ again offered .an opportunity of taking up the improved sections, and that an amountbo set aside for the purchase of stock.

That in the event of the. foregoing request' being refused, the Minister for Lands be requested to compensate dissatisfied settlers for improvements, and, if desired, they be granted the opportunity. of choosing j . suitable sections, either from Government blocks or by selection under the 1917 amendment to the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act (viz., soldiers’ own sections). That the Government be urged to set up a Commission to go into- matters affecting soldiers on the Te Miro settlement. That the members for the district, Messr s Young and Bollard, be requested to obtain a report regarding land purchased by the Government for settlement and the progress of the same, such report to be submitted to Parliament during the coming session. That the Waikato Returned Soldiers' Association send ia remit to the -New Zealand Association, advising it tc formulate some scheme for providing intending settlers with export advice.