LAND PROBLEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17726, 10 September 1919, Page 5

LAND PROBLEMS

—oPREVENTION OF AGGREGATION. ACTION BY TIIE GOVERNMENT. SETTLEMENT OF SOLDIERS. (Peb United Press Association.) . WELLINGTON, Septcmb2r 9. During tho discussion on Ministerial answers to questions in tiio house of Representatives to-night, tho Minister of Lands replied to several inquiries as to what he was doing m tho matter of stopnino- land aggregation. Ho stated that he" iras inserting a clauso in thu session's Laad Act Amendment Bill which would make aggregation a thing of the past. Ho added'that a man who practised aggregation would suffer such a penalty as would effectually prevent him from ever aoin-g tho like again Ho exolaiaod that in 1913 and 1813 serious attempts were mads by tho Government to prevent aggregation, but loopholes were discovered. For instance, a man would take up a lease with a purchasing clause or divide the land amxij his faniilv. and the Govemm?nt could not- got at him Men desirous of aggregation could c.Tord to pav more than could bo paid to settle soldiers on tno land. Ho explained that- it had not been the policy of the Government, to send soldiers into tho back-blocks. It was the policy to nold back this land for development by returned men who were in poor health during the period of rapid demobilisation Recently they had thrown open areas in the back-blocks which, ho expected, would shortly bo taken up by soldiers who would be able to as>ist in forming roads. The Governments had not forgotten tho undeveloped lands, and very much more would have been done if it had had mote funds at its disposal.