WHY "DIGGER" FAILS

NZ Truth, Issue 1030, 22 August 1925, Page 6

WHY "DIGGER" FAILS

Reviewing the old question of why soldier-settlers have failed, one of them writes to "Truth," setting down as first reason the high price of the land. He also says that the supervisors ai-e unequal to their job: "that the demands and orders lodged against soldier-settlers' ' cheques by the Commissioner of Crown' Lands, amounting to, m some cases, one-half of the settler's gross returns are sufficient to bankrupt any farmer or other business man, no matter how smart or efficient

he is (I have yet to learii of a business man who can show a profit after being 1 deprived of one-half of his turnover) ; that the department, by divulging to merchants and county councils the existing- conditions between the settler and the department, deprives the settler of the confidence he Avould otherwise receive; that the department, by insisting that the proceeds pf all cull and you rig' stock sold should be' paid to itself, deprives the. settler of the opportunity to improve his herd, and. m some cases,- 'to even keep up the required number: that about onehalf 01' the soldier-settlers are suffering from the effects of their service at the war; and no consideration is shown- to the man whOigoes into dock at intervals for repairs; instead of that, he. is usually marked down as one of the non- triers."