LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1735, 5 September 1919, Page 8

LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

THE COUNTRY'S DUTY. ALLEGATION OF PROFITEERING. [From Oar Own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 4. Speaking to the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Loans Bill in the Legislative Council this afternoon, Hon. W. J. Gcddis (Napier) had something to say on the question of profiteering. He instanced the case of a Hawke's Bav land-owner with money who, realising the demand that had been created, conceived the idea of cutting up his station. He did so, and made a profd of £70,000. The point which concerned Mr Geddis most was that some of the purchasers had been returned soldiers. Was it right for that man to load each of those sections with unearned increment, seeing that the people who were taking the land were men who had been away serving their country? The hon. member was also struck by the fact that the Bill which the Leader of the Council (Hon. Sir Francis Bell) had submitted was a Bill to enable the Dominion to borrow £1,250,000 for the purpose of supplying land for soldiers. He hoped it might not happen to put a large amount of profit into the pockets of land speculators and large land-owners. When our soldiers flocked to the colours—perhaps to make the supreme sacrifice—the expectation was held out that land would be waiting for them when they returned to this country, on which land they would settle and achieve prosperity. He asked, "Are we giving them any land at all?" The policy pursued in the last three years had "loaded" the land, and a fall in prices would mean failure and insolvency. Hon. Sir Francis Bell: Not insolvency.

Mr Geddis said he thought it was the duty of this country to provide land at pre-war prices for soldiers. There was power for the Government to take land compulsorily. That provision had never been put into operation. The Government had circularised all land-owners, asking if they were prepared to sell, and at what price. He said it was the duty of the Government to take the land. He did not mean appropriate it, but take it at a fair price.