RE-VALUED SOLDIER FARMS

NZ Truth, Issue 973, 19 July 1924, Page 5

RE-VALUED SOLDIER FARMS

Former Swamp Lands

SINKING PEAT PROBLEM.

Soldier settlers on the swamp lands of the Hauraki Plains (Firth of Thames) were accused of being "a discontented lot" because of their continual complaining when they discovered that the land they had been dumped on wasn't worth anything like the value the Government placed on ,it for leasing purposes. Their discontent has been justified by the Revaluation Board, which has cut values down m several settlements by as much as from £18 to £8 an acre, the average reduction being 50 per cent, all round. Naturally, the settlers concerned are now m better heart, as m addition to these reductions the board has recommended that they shall not be called on to make good arrears m the way of rent- — amounting tb years m some instances— and that they shall also be allowed ,from two to four years from now on m to pay any further rent. This seems very generous, and Mr. Massey has done a little window-dres-sing m connection therewith. But an expert m the land business points out that the Government can very well afford to allow settlers to have this leasehold tenure rent-free for .many years; that to do so would actually pay m the long run. ' '..*'. What of the settlers placed on land purchased by the Government at boom prices— boom prices brought .about by the Government's own policy of paying almost anything that was asked for, land on which to place soldier settlers, m the belief that some day the soldier settlers would pay the piper? The Revaluation Board has considered a number /Of these freehold farm cases. Has it marked the land down ; to.* its-real.-value,' irrespective* of the loss to the Government? Go ask the settlers! Mr. Massey trumpets the glad news that only one per cent, of the soldiers have appealed against their revaluations. A lot to boast about!; Mr. Massey didn't blow any bugle-notes about this fact— that all the soldier settlers were informed, prior to their applications for re -hearing being con-' sidered, that the decisions of the Revaluation Board would be final, and that there could be no appeal. That ir why only one per cent, of the men , have "appealed"; the remainder would very much like the right of appeal, but since they have been plainly told that they have no such right, for the present they will have to accept what they get, or get off their holdings, as many '■ are doing. Will Mr. Massey kindly tell the public 'to whom the negligible , one ;per cent, referred to appealed? A' point m connection with the i famous Hauraki Plains that is going , to give the Government something , further to think about is the rapid [ settling down of the peat there. On some sections innumerable stumps, are now showing, says a correspondent, whilst many buildings have settled down unevenly, and some have settled on the stumps, which came through the floors. Even , on sections where there is still a good depth of peat, the tramping around the back-doors of residences has caused consolidation, making the buildings- lean back- ; wards. Who is to pay for the damage — the unhappy settler or ; the de r partment which declared the swamp properly .'drained and suitable for settlement, }\Lh& ■ which made It available?