PROTEST BY R.S.A. OVER ALLOCATION OF A FARM

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 July 1950, Page 6

PROTEST BY R.S.A. OVER ALLOCATION OF A FARM

HAMILTON, Yesterday (PA).—The withdrawal from a ballot among returned servicemen of a farm in the Paratu block, Walton, two days after applications for the farms closed, was the subject of a discussion at a meeting of theWaikato R-S.A. executive last night. It was decided to ask the Minister fol- Rehabilitation the reason for the withdrawal of the farm. A deputation of ex-servicemen who had made applications for inclusion in a ballot to be held tomorow of two farms in the Walton area, known as the Paratu block, waited on the R.S.A. and stated that they were very concerned at the withdrawal of one of the farms from the ballot. They produced an advertisement calling for applications from returned servicemen with A grade farming tickets for 17 farms in various parts of the Waikato, and including two. at the Paratu farm settlement, advertised on June 13. The advertisement stated that two dairy farms in this block, of approximately 124 acres and 120 acres, about six miles from Walton (in the Morrinsville area) would be ballotted. with applications closing on June 27. Both farms were advertised as having new three bedroom houses built on the sections. '

The delegation produced another advertisement which appeared on June 29, withdrawing section B of 120 acres of the Paratu settlement from the ballot to be held at Hamilton on July 5. On receipt of the information yesterday, the R.S.A. telephoned Wellington for informaation and were advised by the Minister's secretary that the farm had been withdrawn for preferential allocation to a returned serviceman in the district, who had conducted negotiations for the purchase of the section concerned before it was taken by the State under part two of the Land Sales and Servicemen’s Act. The delegation stated that well over 100 returned servicemen had made application for the section in question. The executive decided to ask the Minister to hold up the allocation until a full investigation could be made.

Advice was received from the Minister of Lands (Mr. Corbett) late this morning by the R.S.A. that the other farm in the Paratu block would be withdrawn from the ballot tomorrow, and ballots on the settlement would be postponed until the Minister could study representations made on behalf of those objecting to the preferential allocation of one farm.