LAND FOR RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 205, 5 October 1916, Page 4

LAND FOR RETURNED SOLDIERS.

AN APPEAL TO OWNERS OF LARGE AREAS. t . ' The Government desires to acquireby purchase good land in all districts throughout the Dominion, and wierever possible, in blocks of able area, in order that soldier settlements may be constituted. A number of offers of small areas of good land, and a less number of offers of larger areas of inferior land have been received. All such offers have been con sidered, and in some cases purchases have been completed. B'ut the principal purpose which the Government has in view is not served by a methocfof desultory purchases of small properties divisable into a few holdings and separated by wide distances. Nor is it possible by that method to ensure acquisition of sufficient land inall parts of New Zealand to afforcr returned soldiers the opportunity of settling in or near the districts fron* which they enlisted. The Government has, resolved to make a public and general request to all owners of estates of considerable area to set apart portions of their properfies, consisting of some of the best land in each property, for settlement by returned soldiers, and to offer to the Government for purchase at fair prices for that purpose the lands so set apart. Good land in fairly large areas, divisable into a reasonable number of holdings, can only be secured by a general cossent of the owners of large estates throughout New Zealand to sell parts of their properties. And because such sales will enable the Government of New Zealand to provide laud for our soldiers who return from service In the war, the Government trusts that its request will meet with hearty response from the owners.

The alternative of compulsory aequisition of the whole of several largeporperties would involve t-he expenditure of sums not perhaps in excess of the amount required for purchase orparts of a much larger number of properties, but if that alternative were adopted, the areas provided for settle ment would be limited to a few districts instead of being spread through out the Dominion, and a quantftw cf land would in most cases be incrddefl which, though profitable when held In large areas, might not be suitable fofclose subdivision. i