SOLDIERS’ LAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17345, 27 September 1924, Page 1

SOLDIERS’ LAND.

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE. CHARGE AND CHALLENGE. (Special to the “ Star/’> WELLINGTON, September 26. 'lire Premier and the member for Pa tea had a differene© of opinion in v’ 10-nign l over purciiasos of koldiers’ land. Mr Forbes had called attention to 11 1*5 exceptional amount of arrears in the Auckland and Gisborne land districts, showing that in Auckland wh*ro the total receipts amounted to £179.000, the arrears and postponwents reached £158,000. Mr Al’l/cod, Minister of 1 ands, sai l the matter was easily explained Ho had noted the large amount of arrears in the Auckland and Wellington districts particularly, and he found that the greatest difficulty in collecting pay* inputs from soldiers was where they had settled on dairying laud. There whs le-%s trouble on sheep areas, which recovered quicker from tho slump. Mr Corrigan: Is it. not a fact that the reason why the arrears are so numerous is the price of the land was too high? • Land was bought indiscriminately, and T have yet to find an estate for soldiers which did not belong to a Government supporter. Mr Witt-5 : Yon «?•«■> wrong there. M•• Massey declared that the member for Patea was in the habit of making these statements, and. to put it bluntly, he was alleging dishonesty on the part of the Government. Mr Smith: Does the cap fit? 'li Massey: The Hon gentleman had letter keep quiet about cap fitting. Ido nor. mind party tactics, but I like fair p!-T and that men should play the game. T say again that if ho knows anything wrong with one of theso purchase* let us hare it now. Mr Corrigan; They were all bought tor» dear. Mr Massey added that ther*» was .a National Government in office when Ihe purchases were made, and the responsibility was on all the Ministers, including the present leader of the Opposition. Mr Wilton! : Each man ran his own department. Mr Massey agreed, but pointed out j that all important expenditure had ) to lie approved by CabinetMr Holland smilingly offered io arbitrate. but lie proceeded to giro an immediate verdict which was that both parties were responsible. Mr Corrigan said he adhered to his statement that. it. was significant that the lands were purchased from Government supporters. Another signifi- \ cant, fact was that all the members of t-h« valuation boards that ho knew, ;n»d ho knew a good nunfber, were Government supporters. Ho knew of land offered in Taranaki at £2O per acre. «»n which, had it boon purchased, soldiers would have done well, but a mile and a half away a strong agitation vas started by a strong Government n.pporter whose land was purchased at £ ID per acre, and to-day soldiers had lost tlieir money on it. He dial longed anyone to point out. land from Hangitikci to New Plymouth that was not purchased from a Government supper ter. He added that ho was not wpeaking in .a party spirit—(Reform laughter)—but lie bad been challenged bv the Prime Minister. Mr Massey: I am not done with you M r Bell so id one of the. largest estates bought in the Bay of Islands was the property of a bitter opponent of tho Governnlent. Ho did not, believe, the Government had been guilty of dishonesty. Mr Corrigan : Nobody accused it. of dishonesty. 'lr B* ll replied that, "Mr Corrigan’s statement# was an accusation. ■• 1 did not intend to reply to it. The tiling was too mean.” declared Mr Guthrie, who was Minister of Lauds when the purchases were made. Ho po-ilivelv denied that tho political opinions of vendors were thought, of l,v himself or the I.and Purchase Board which had t-o report on all land offer? including those in Taranaki. Ho j knew that the purchase operations cans- I e.l prices to harden, hut the Govern- j merit, had nothing to do with purchases bv individual soldiers who were granted | mortgages. Some of this land was | brought at exhorbitant prices, but the J difficulty was due to tho second mortgages. # I Mr MTjeod, Minister of Lands, said Mr ( orrigan’s implication, was unworthy of liim. Mr Corrigan: Tt must have been an | accident. Mr M’Leod : If we purchased only I from Government supporters then every ' owner of land must have been a Government supporter, and it is quite possible - - Mr Holland: They have changed their views! (Laughter.)