SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26479, 5 June 1947, Page 8

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

GOVERNMENT’S DELAY OTAGO FARMERS CONCERNED “Farmers in Otago are still concerned about the delay by .the authorities in having discharged servicemen settled on the latid,” said the president, Mr S. Sim, addressing the conference of Federated Farmers of Otago yesterday. “We have protested about this matter before and it is giving us all a great deal of concern. I know that in odr district there are several A grade men waiting to go on to farms, but they can get no satisfaction whatsoever. These men are not getting any younger and it seems wholly wrong and unfair that they should be kept kicking their heels while Government departments make up their minds.” The Minister of Rehabilitation, Mr Skinner, was reported to have said recently that “land development is a long-time job but we do not have to worry overmuch, as we have sufficient land to complete the task.” If this was so, why had the servicemen not been put on the land—if, in fact, it was bought for soldier settlement? He might not be worried overmuch, but the soldiers were. Farmers felt that the returned men had been let down badly in this way. Another matter which had been brought up before was the delay in splitting up estates which had ostensibly been bought for soldier settlement. These properties were practically ready for handing over when the new boundaries were surveyed, but State managers were still on these estates making money for the Government and keeping returned men out.