OVERLOADED LANDS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8178, 6 May 1919, Page 4

OVERLOADED LANDS.

OUTLOOK FOR SOLDIER SETTLERS. MEMBER’S WORD OF WARNING. Mr C.. H. Poole, M.P., who has just returned to Auckland from a three weeks’ visit to the North, has rather an impressive story to tell regarding the Government purchase of estates for the settlement of returned soldiers.

“By my own observation, and the opinion of local people,” said Mr Poole, “I am convinced that the impression is well founded that nearly all the estates the Government are purchasing at the present time are so tremendously over-capitalised that failure must be the ultimate fate of most of the men who are being placed on the land. One of New Zealand’s present dangers is over-capitalisation in all real estate, and some day this problem will have to be faced more seriously than it is being faced at present. “But why the returned soldier should be penalised is a mystery to me. It is just as well to sound this note of warning now, recognising that in the near future the Government will become still further involved if a halt is not called. This halt is necessary in order to get a better idea of what these lands will be worth to the soldiers when they are loaded with roading and other essential improvements. I am told on excellent authority that the Remuera Estate, near Ohaewai, which has been bought for the settlement of returned soldiers will, when loaded, cost at least £22 per acre before the soldier puts a stick on it. Is that the way to give our returned fighting men a square deal? As one who is keenly interested in the repatriation of the soldiers, I hate to think that this over-capi-talisation threatens to reach 'such extremes that the public will certainly become suspicious sooner or later respecting the sincerity of the State for the welfare of these men.’ Not only this, but the door is being opened to the more sinister suspicion of business relationships between the State and the large landowners and syndicates. Loud complaints are being heard from Australia just now regarding‘the alleged land purchase scandal connected with the repatriation of the Australian soldiers. We must not have any suspicion of a similar nature associated with our own administration.

“lam given to understand,” added Mr Poole, “that Mr Skeet, the Auckland Crown Land Commissioner, has for a long time been of the opinion that rural lands are over-capitalised, and has notified the Goyemment to that effect. Expert opinion thoroughly bears out the need for such a warning, and it should be the first duty of the State and its citizens to see that the men who have fought and hied for us do not fall victims to this pernicious process of over-capitalisa-tion.”