LAND FOR SOLDIERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10082, 21 September 1918, Page 11

LAND FOR SOLDIERS

A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT DUTY OF THE BIG LANDOWNERS. Press Association. GISBORInE, September 20. Speaking to a deputation urging tho establishment'.of; soldiers' settlements in this district, the-Hon. W. D. toMacdonald said ho had taken out a list of about 150 farmers, with property extending from Mangtu to East Cape, owning 3000 acres up to •10,000. tie was strongly of the opinion that these men could hand over a portion of their land pro rata at reasonable price, and that it was not too much to expect ot them. He hoped local land-owners would take into consideration the act (and he was not one given to making threats) that there was a demand, for land, and that it would be well for owners of large areas of land to hand over certain portions for this purpose. When there wore large nnmbers ot men anxious to get on the land, some provision had to be made, and he knew there were largo areas held by individual men to whom it would bo 110 difficulty to offer some of it to tho Government. If they did not, the Government could not be blamed it something was done for the people. Referring to native land purchaseoperations, tho Minister said that all the land purchased had been carmarked for soldier settlement. He did not think there would be any difficulty in consolidation. The Hon. A. I. Ngata had been working at consolidation, and he (the speaker) did not think it would be necessary to wait until other purchases were completed to get some of this land onencd up. The original idea had beon that land should bo held until the return, of tho men to New Zealand. There wero now over 20,000 men returned, and he did not think settlement should bo delayed much longer. There were not,' however, men for reading, and surveying, and, apart from this, everything was now, so expensive. • They had over 260,000 acres in the L'rewera country, and some of it was really good land, and when a few more purchases wero completed he thought they would bo able to get on with it. It was absolute nonsense for some to suggest that 'every ■' returned soldier should go on the land. It would be all very well for. people to say, in tho event of a disaster, that the Government gave too much for the land, and tho Government was right in takingreasonable precautions.