LAND SETTLEMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25309, 20 August 1943, Page 6

LAND SETTLEMENT

ALTERNATIVE SCHEME SUGGESTIONS TO MR FRASER fP.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 19. Resolutions about the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Bill, which Were adopted at a combined conference «.f various organisations in Wellington on Tuesday, have been forwarded to the Prime Minister. Mr Fraser. In a covering letter the Associated Chambers of Commerce, under whose auspices the conference was held, states: “It is asked that you give your serious consideration to these representations, which are not intended to be in criticism of the Government’s intention economically to settle returned soldiers on the land, but are submitted in a helpful attitude. If it should happen that the Bill is not passed through all stages in the present week, the conference representatives would welcome an opportunity of a personal discussion with you early next week.” The organisations at the conference ■were the Associated Chambers, the New Zealand Farmers’ Federation, the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, the New Zealand Sheep Owners’ Federation, the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation, the New Zealand Stock and Station Agents’ Association, the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, and the Ratepayers’ Association. The conference unanimously agreed that any sound measure that would facilitate the settlement of returned soldiers on freehold land of their own or on leasehold land with the option to returned men to acquire the freehold should have and would have the full support and hearty co-operation of all the bodies represented at the conference. The conference unanimously agreed that the Bill introduced in the House last week Will not facilitate the settlement of returned soldiers in such a way as to give

them the maximum opportunity of successful settlement and production and at I the same time on terms that would be fair and equitable to the present owners of lands upon which returned soldiers might be settled. Two Separate Issues Confused The conference unanimously suggested that the present Bill confuses and vastly complicates two entirely separate issues—two issues that are not easily reconciled. These are: (1) The settlement on farm lands of returned soldiers, and (2) the stabilisation of land prices. The conference therefore urges that these two issues should be kept entirely separate and, ii ' they are to be taken up by legislation, then there should be completely separate Bills. The conference unanimously recommended that there should be a complete survey of lands, both Crown and private, suitable for soldier settlement, and that when the survey has been completed ths owners of all properties coming under the survey should be invited to offer their lands for sale for the purpose of soldier settlement. If offers of sufficient suitable land are not forthcoming, it may be necessary to provide some form of compulsory acquisition. , , , It was the unanimous opinion of the conference that the method and terms of compulsory acquisition set out in the Bill are unworkable and are unfair and unreasonable to the present owners of the lands which might be so acquired. The conference urges that the most fair and equitable method of compulsory acquisition and basis of value is. the method and basis that has hitherto prevailed in respect of the compulsory acquisition of land by the Crown, and it urges that there should always be reserved to the present owners of such land the right of appeal to the highest civil courts in the Dominion. \ . , „ . Concurrent with the introduction of any Bill to promote the acquisition of land for soldier settlement, there should also be introduced a Bill providing a whole plan of soldier rehabilitation and providing in particular in regard to settlement of soldiers on farm lands details of the methods to be followed, tne financial arrangements in legard to the lands, improvements and stock, the nature of the title to be given to returned soldiers and the nature and extent of any expense to be borne by the community by way of subsidy to facilitate the settlement of soldiers on a basis that would give them a full opportunity of farming holdings on an economic and profitable basis. Supply and Demand

The conference was unanimously of the opinion that urban lands, particularly house properties, require entirely different treatment from farm lands, and suggests that there is only one sound method by which the market price of urban lands, and particularly of domestic houses, can be reasonably stabilised, that is by equating the supply to the demand. The conference, therefore, urges that, subject to the prior claims of the. energetic prosecution of the war, the Government should encourage the operation forthwith of a vigorous policy of home building not only by the State, but more especially by. private enterprise, and that, pending the nearer equation of the supply to the demand in the matter.-of dwellings, a direct subsidy should. be.- made. available to returned soldiers for the urban hOITieS - , X 1 XL. x The conference urges very strongly that land legislation other than (if such is necessary) legislation to provide for a survey of lands suitable for returned soldier settlemdit, ' should, be introduced in Parliament in t.hbi.Presbht; session. If and when sucfe 'further T. legislation is planned, it should be drafted -in consultation with the', representatives,' of" those who will be - specially affected by such legislation. .It should then, be circulated freely to the public and when ultimately introduced into Parliament it should not be put through the Legislature without providing the fullest opportunity for all the interested parties to assist the Government in making the legislation sound, equitable, and efficient. In the consideration of any legislation on these matters which it may be necessary to introduce to Parliament, the’ conference offers the Minister the co-operation of the conference itself and of all those bodies represented at the conference.