SOLDIER SETTLEMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15132, 3 February 1920, Page 3

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT.

(To the Editor of tho Herald.) Sir,— lt was indeed very gratifying to sec, -both your leading article and also Mr Geo. Witters' letter m your last issue, emphasising the more speedy settlement of returned 'soldiers on the various blocks that have been purchased by the Government for that purpose m" this district. As one who is very keen to draw a section and mako a start, preferably m this district, it is certainly very disheartening the way the authorities are not doing more to have the blocks more speedily settled. Surely it* is high time the Returned Soldiers' Association Committee bestirred themselves and endeavored to rectify matters. I . am. sure they would be ably supported by all the local bodies who havo the welfare of the district at heart. As was pointed out by Mr Geo. Witters, "Repongaere" is a glaring instance of the Department's inaction. The survey (plans and report) which were completed by mid-November, could have been made mouths earlier just for the asking; even now two and a half months have been allowed to slip by and there is still iw signs of the plans, from the Department, for the men's inspection. Why is it that arrangements were not made so as to permit 'the successful nppljcants to go straight on to the sections as soon as the Government took over? Many disadvantages 'have been incurred through the delay and will prove detrimental to the success of the soldier settlers; for it is only second class country at the best, and the areas are small, requiring a man of farming knowledge and capital to make a do of it. The same delay is noticeable m connection with the drainage works to be carried out on the Reeves block at Tolaga. The .whole of last month has been allowed to slip by and no commencement has been made with this important work which is essentially a job for the summer, .although the levels, etc., were taken before Christmas. If the same delay occurs with tho other blocks such as Te Oinana (Nuhaka) and Reynolds' (Tolaga), the successful applicants will find themselves put on to the sections m the middle of tho dairying season. In taking a glance round it is no wonder the local men have to go elsewhere to find suitable sections. It was. indeed very unfortunate that such a magnificent offer as that of Mr Jno. Clark's should haye been refused by the Minister of Lands, without first .giving some surveyor a chance to compile a scheme for suitably cutting up the property. Tho returned soldier would be well advised td select sis their representative on the Land Pur<*feasc Board one of their number who is conversant with surveying and so servo the double purpose of watching the interests of the soldiers as well as suggesting suitable schemes for subdivision and "not allow such an offer as the above to be lost just for the want of a suitable scheme, which appears to be the reason for the Minister's refusal. Is the offer still good? If so, ih would bo well for a scheme to be drafted which would cost ab' the most £25 and could, through the association, be forwarded to the Minister for his reconsideration. I should liko to thankboth Mr Witters and yourself for bringing the matter before the public and trust that some speeding up m tljn matter will result from your efforts. — Yours, etc., "A RETURNED DIGGER."