SOLDIERS AND THE LAND.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14846, 25 February 1919, Page 5

SOLDIERS AND THE LAND.

AN IMPORTANT MEETING. t SIR J. CARROLL'S StJPPORT. ■:. 1 v At the invitation of tbe executive of - the .Returned Soldiers' Association, Sir - James, -'Carroll attended . tlie "/.' Soldiers'- :• Club last night for 'the purpose of meet- - ing the men and discussirig^the matter j of land purchase for the 'settlement of 5 returned -soldiers. . ,Mr F. ' H^ Bedford, president, in wel- » eominjj* the member for, the district, out- • lined a scheme which the association had in hand for obtaining a large r valuable block of land in this district f 6i\ , soldier settlement. Tlie land had been ( offered to the association at what was [ ' considered by a prominent local business man at a very reasonable figure, and the association were lookipjr to the Go- , vernment to seize the opportunity. He s outlined the steps already. taken in the matter, and mentioned that the Association s . secretary had been dispatched' to Wellington to endeavor to induce the Minister of Crown Lands to visit-Gis-borno at an early date, and also to pro- , cure the- presence of the Land Purchase Board if possible immediately. . Mr Bedford concluded by asking the member for his- support , in this effort that the association -was making. Mr George Darton also emphasised the necessity for the sympathetic, support of the member, and stated that most of the repatriation so far had been done by the men themselves and not by the Government. The fit men who were returning would not stand the same treatment as had been administered to the unfit returned soldiers. They intended to have what they wanted within reason, and the Government could not challenge the justice of their claims. Tlie Government had opened blocks of land in other districts, sections of which had proved : unsuitable for soldier settlement and new wished to shelter themselves behind these unclaimed sections. This would not t do. "Were .the men,, who had been training in farm work and farm 'management," he said, "to start from behind scratch after struggling these late years on a soldier's pittance? They never had struck for higher wages, as many of the men who stayed at home were in a position to do." Referring to the question in hand, Mr Darfcon said that always, when the Government had purchased land in this district, the cry had been that the price paid had been tco high. Thus had it been with Waimare, Pouparae, and the Willows and other estates, but there was no case in which settlers on these have failed. This "price too high" attitude was onci which they could meetin the present case. I'here was i.o doubt, - however, that the land in question was inctst suitable- for soldier settlement, aiid .if as the Returned Soldiers' Association wished to see the block was purchased success for the soldier-farm-ers was assured. The Returned Sol-r* diers' Association was in receipt of a very fine pffeiv and the application for Government purchase was not made with cap in hand': only justice was demanded,, and the Government by issuing war bonds for tho purchase of- the •••block would bo making . f*, handsome investment as well as justifying their repatriation/scheme. - ■■ Mr G. Jones < said that the opinion , of a very prominent local business man had been entirely satisfactory. ! In reply, Sir James Carroll said it was needless to assure the- men of his sympathy and support. Getting down to bedrock principle the' scheme in handhe considered was a fructification of the Returned Soldiers' Assocation plans . for: settling returned soldiers on the land.. He agreed with Mr Darton ? s remarks as to the suitability of local land- for settlement by local men, but he said discrimination must be made between those capable ef back-country or urban settlement. (Hear ! hear !) Many men of course would not be* ablo to* make a success of a back-country section no matter on what terms they held the land. lie advised the executive of the association "to endeavor to classify the members in accordance wth their capabilities. Tliis classification would be a great help both to, the men theaiselyes a.nd to the. Government. It was. possible^ even probable, that the Gov-- , eminent would be judyped to purchase this block, and there were two or three other valuable^ pi'opeJr'tips in the district which if obtained, on reasonable terms, should succeed splendidly. (Applause.) Any land 'of the quality obtainable 1 in this district purchased at a fair prico must be a magnificent- asset to the State, and it should venture into millions in b,uilding np such an asset. (Applause) . . . Sir James Carroll, continuing, promised to Ho his , utmost to obtain the , presence in Poverty Bay of 'the Minister of Lands, and also to discuss with the heads of the Government the necessities of the people of the East Coast. He further pledged his greatest efforts in support of the association in what he referred to as the stupendous project of obtaining through the <Government the block of land under discussion. (Applause.) He made feeling reference '.'to bis Tecognition of the sacrifices of the . East Coast, more particularly in regard to the native recruiting. Oht of the, 2600 Maoris who voluntarily enlisted for active service overseas. 1300 at least were recruited from the East Coast. (He?r ! hear 1) In conclusion the member reassured tho association of his suppart, and said the- men need have .no apprehension regarding lack of assistance. As regards the financial side, of the matter thero Was no doubt that the money for tho investment could bo* found. No better security for investment could be found in the world than pur Dominion soil. , Mr Bedford thanked the member for, his sympathy and the pledge ho had given.