LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11762, 28 July 1916, Page 5

LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

RETURNED MAN'S COMAINT " POOR BARREN LAND." "First Canterbury" writes to the Auckland "Star":—■

" I have heard quite a lot about the land for soldiers scheme, and, being on a visit to Auckland. 1 took the opportunity of seeing some of the • land reserved for returned soldiers close to the city of Auckland. I went to Henderson, and was shown a range of low hills and steep gullies, which I was told had been surveyed into small farms for returned soldiers. I feel sorry for Auckland if that is tho best it can. do in tho way of settling soldiers on tho land. I have seen quite a lot of very good land round Auckland, but I havo not seen anything to compare with tho poor, barren, wind-swept range of hills that I saw a couple of miles outside Henderson. It is the picture of desolation, and to put returned soldiers on that land would be cruelty to animals. Whilo in the district I went to have a look at a Crown settlement that I am told was opened for selection two years ago, and after wading through a sea of mild along a narrow lane a few yards wide I came to the settlement, such as it is. A lot of the sections have never been touched, and I counted five empty dwellings, the owners of which had had to go away to find work, and, of thoso settlers who still reside on their land, the majority have to work away from their homes. In the circumstances, they would probably bo better off without it. 1 asked one of tho settlers how long he had been there, and what he thought about it. He old me ho had been there eighteen months, and, pointing out a hill in the distance with a tree on, tile top, he said:. "See that hill? That's south, (ret to it; fly for your life.. Don't stop; don't look hack. Remember Lot's wife. She looked hack, and she hnd to stay there. You - can thank the Irf>rd you haven't got to stay herel" I agreed with him, and went, caught the Kaipara caterpillar and crawled back to Auckland; and now I am going to see what Hawke's Bay has to offer the returned soldier in the way of land for settlement."