EXPLOITATION OF A SOLDIER ALLEGED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3413, 13 August 1919, Page 28

EXPLOITATION OF A SOLDIER ALLEGED.

LAND AGENTS' METHODS CRITICISED. (From Odb Own Coeeespondent.) INVERCARGILL, August 8. A oase of interest to returned soldiers who desiro to settle on the land came before a meeting of the Southland Land Board to-day, when Mr F. S. Dwyer, a returned soldier, applied to the board for financial assistance to secure a property in the Jaoob's River Hundred, four and a-half miles east of Otautau. The particulars supplied by the applicant showed that the farm consisted of a little over 127 acros, and that the price which he had agreed to pay to the vendor (Mr H. Crooks) was £l6 per acre, the total amount being £2041. He had paid down a deposit of £350, and he asked for an advance of £1691. Ranger Collms's valuation of the property was £ISBB, and the ranger stated that a farm in the locality had been valued by him at £l2 10s an acre, and another opposite to that purchased by the returned soldier at £lO 12s. Improvements of at least equal value to those on the property in question were on the other farms. At-the request of the board, Mr Oughton, a land agent in Iftvercargill, was present, it being through him that the transaction had been effected. Mr Oughton, who was ques- ■ tioned at length, declared that everything had been above-board, and that the applicant had -been given a place which was thought to be of a reasonable price. Mr James Fleming said it had been made , clear to the land agents in Invercargill that the deposits were to be returned - unless the transaction was put through by the board; otherwise it would be useless for the board to try to protect the soldiers. A lot of people were never tired of stating what the soldiers had done, and still this sort of thing went on. The board in cases of the kind under consideration could not finance the soldier and protect his money. The board was sitting there day after day, trying to assist the men, and it was up • against that sort of thing. This was not the only case of the kind. The Commissioner said that, so r ar as *he board was concerned, it appeared that the property was not worth the money. There had been case 3 of this sort where ehe board considered that, in the interest of the soldier, it would give him some assistance because he had a considerable quantity of stock, but he thought it was about time they made it quite, clear that ■fchey were going to put a stop to that kind ©f thing He waa disposed to move that " thej should disapprove of the application. Xi an owner was inclined to charge a soldier £3so'oi £4OO too much for a place the boara could not help it. He ' was afraid that the man could not be helped in any way, and he advised him to try to regain She deposit. ' . The Applicant: I am afraid I won't bo frble to do it.