A DRASTIC PROPOSAL

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15189, 9 April 1917, Page 6

A DRASTIC PROPOSAL

FOR SECURING LAND FOR SOLDIERS. At a meeting of the Wairarapa Patriotic Executive in Masterton ou Wednesday last, a full discussion took place upon a motion in reference to the seeming of land for returned soldiers. The Tenui Committee of the Patriotic Executive had previously forwarded a motion on the subject, and the following amendment was moved by Air a. P. \V batman : “That the Government be urged to immediately provide improved land for returned soldiers, as it was an injustice to expect returned men to take up unimproved and bush land after the hardships and sacrifices they have already made for the Empire. If land is not offered for purchase voluntarily by owners, the land necessary oe balloted for in the same manner as men are balloted foE military .service. A standard value of property be agreed as marking the difference between first and second division jaudowners. Men owning largely valued estates be put in the first division, and portions of their land taken till their holdings are reduced to the value of holdings of men in the second division. Payment for land taken to bo made in Government debentures, or on a leasehold system, with a right of purchase.” Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, M.P., who had seconded Air Whatman's proposal, said they all knew that the purchasing of land by the Government had forced up the prices of land in those particular localities. Aggregation of land was goin a cu rapidly in New Zealand. In the North of Auckland there was a very large area of land. Pieces of this land were being acquired from time to time by the speculator, who simply sat down like the Maoris and waited for a rise in values. This meant that the land went on to the market at three or four times its original value. The speaker maintained that the Government should acquire this land, paying the Maoris a fair price and safeguarding the interests of the natives. Some steps should be taken during the coming session of Parliament to prevent the aggregation of land, and to provide land in plenty for the men who were coming back. The Government should, if necessary, acquire land compulsorily for returned soldiers, and pay for it in war bonds. The speaker thought a pronouncement should go forth from this meeting asking the Government to take steps to provide ample land for returning soldiers, Several amendments were rejected, and then Ihe motion was adopted clause by clause, with the exception of, that relating to balloting for land, discussion on which was adjourned with a view to having the clause re-drafted.