SOLDIER SETTLERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3556, 9 May 1922, Page 15

SOLDIER SETTLERS

A SERIOUS PROBLEM. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WANGANUI, May 6 A number of soldier settlers in the Taranaki district are having a very strenuous time, and owing to the drop in the price of primary .products some of them are unable to meet their obligations with the local bodies. It was stated at a recent meeting of the Inglewood County Council that the Lands Department was handling milk cheques, and that it made itself secure, giving the returned men whatever balance, if any, might be left. It was decided to write to the Minister about the matter and point- out the difficulty experienced by local bodies in collecting their rates. The Hon. D. 11. Guthrie has now replied, stating that the question had been carefully considered when it was brought up bv several other county councils some littletime ago. It- was then decided that as the Crown was not liable for the rates of soldiers or any other settler® no action could be taken to recoup county councils for their losses. It was considered that the soldiers should be able to pay their rates just the same as other persons, as they were being very leniently treated by the Government, and most of them had received a postponement of rent free of interest. He could only suggest that the county should apply” to the Commissioner of Crown Lands to take action when all other means of collecting the rates had failed. The clerk stated that the Act provided that if the rates were not paid within 14 days the Land Board could cancel the lease, and it had power to pay ihe rates out of the moneys received in connection with the property. Members of the council expressed the opinion that the soldiers had little chance of paying their rates when the Lands De-. partment took from half to three-quarters of their milk cheques. One case was cited in which the department had taken and sold the herd of one hard-working young soldier last season, and he had been trying to make a living this year from half a herd. It was consequently no wonder that he had been unable to pay the rates and rents. The opinion was expressed that as long as the Lands Department got its money it did not care. In many cases, however, the land would be left on its hands. The county council gave the matter the fullest consideration, and it- was decided that the council had no option but to make a claim for the rates, as unless judgment were obtained it would have no claim after two years.