LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1916, Page 2

LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

\ GOVERNMENT'S NEW. PROPOSALS. PROVISIONS FOR COMPULSORY ' PURCHASE.

Important clauses relating to the provision of land for discharged soldiers are contained in the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Amendment Bill introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Government is to be empowered to take land under the Public Works Act for settlement by discharged soldiers, and may pay for the land with debentures, which the original owners are to be bound to accept. The Government is to be authorised also to raise a loan of £300,000 for the acquisition of land for settlement by soldiers.' The original Act provided that the Government might grant financial assistance to soldiers who took up land .which had been set apart for them. The Bill proposes that the pow.er to grant financial assistance shall extend to the eases of discharged soldiers who take up e.ny "rown land, ti-Ulement land, or other land administered by a Land Board. Land required for settlement by dischaiged soldiers may be taken under the Public Works Act, 10%, "as for a public work within the Cleaning of that Act." The Public Works Act gives the Government power to acquire land compulsorily, the, amount of compensation to be determined by a Compensation Court in the event of the parties failing to reach an agreement. The Bill further provides that "the whole or any portion of the compensation payable in respect of land taken for the purposes of the principal Act may, at the option of the Minister for Finance, be paid in debentures issued by the Crown, and any person entitled to such compensation shall be obliged to accept such debentures in lieu of cash." The debentures will bear interest at the rate of !i per cent, per annum, free of-income tax. The Government is to be authorised to borrow sums not exceeding in the aggregate i'. r >oo,ooo for the purchase of land for settlement by discharged soldiers. The rate of interest on the loans is not to exceed 5 per cent:. Debentures issued in payment of compensation will be reckoned as part of the loan authorised