LAND SETTLEMENT FOR SOLDIERS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17583, 29 May 1919, Page 3

LAND SETTLEMENT FOR SOLDIERS.

SCHEME APPROVED BY PATRI-

OTIC ASSOCIATION

The following report by Mr. Hope Gibbons, in connection with the granting of assistance to soldier settlers by the Association was presented at yesterday's meeting of the Wanganui-Waitotara Patriotic Association: —

Since our last meeting the .Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. G. W. Russell, has agreed to our proposal allowing us to transfer £1.0,000 of our fund 3to a Special Land Settlement Fund. Mr. Russell also states his willingness at the end of six month.3' time to consider allowing a similar transfer of a further £10,000. Within the last few days it came to my knowledge that it might be possible to obtain Mr. T. Allison's land at Westmere, an area of about 1.50 acres. I approached Mr. Allison on the matter, and he agreed to practically put it under offer to us for a short period (I may say it is already under offer to a possible purchaser). I had received several applications from returned soldiers for assistance to enable them to take up areas of about fifty acres of land, dairying land such as that1 owned by Mr. Allison. I arranged with that gentleman to visit the land with him. Mr. James Higgie, Mr. Hedges and myself visited the land and satisfied ourselves that it was ideal for the purpose in view, being capable of carrying three settlers handsomely—possibly four. Mr. Allison stated that the returns from the cows this year yielded something over 430 per cow, and the land was carrying one cow to two acres. The price he asks for the property is £65 per acre. Since visiting the property, Mr. Veitch, M.P., and myself called on the Minister for Lands, the Hon. Guthrie, and put the proposal before him that our Society should, in conjunction with the Lands ! Department, arrange for the settlement of three soldiers on the land. I Mr. Guthrie expressed his appreciation of the proposal and his willingness to do *all he could to help it through. The names of the three proposed settlers are Messrs C. J. Ball, T. Davison, and S. D'Arcy. At £65 per acre the amounut for each would come to £3250 for land. This is, of course, above the amount allocated to each settler, but it is very possible that the Government will increase the amount. In any case, I am of the opinion that if the Society agree to advance the £750 required, the money will be practically a giltedged investment. Each settler could easily, after the first year, pay back at the rate of £100 per year— possibly £200. I suggest that the Lands and Finance Committee be appointed to give effect to the above proposes, arrange with settlers, make the necessary applications, and generally look after the finance of the settlement. In connection with the above I heard that Mr. Purser's property adjoining—late Southern Grove—an area of 250 acres—was under offer to the Government for settlement on practically the same lines. I also placed this proposal before the Minister of Lands, pointing out that if the settlement were acquired, we would have eight or nine settlers on sections adjoining, and if our Society undertook the sympathetic fathering of the Allison, and Purser areas together we would be doing really good work. Since returning from Wellington I have learnt that individual settlers have applied for areas in the Purser settlement. If the Minister gives effect to these proposals our aim will be attained, the settlers will be established on the land, and we can assist them as we usually do. If the Minister wishes to take advantage of the Society's offer to overlook the whole area, then I suggested the Committee be given power to arrange for the larger settlement in the same relation as I have outlined with the Allison settlement. The financial assistance required by the settlers on the Purser estate would not be quite so large as that needed by the settlers on the Allison settlement. Just here I may state that had it been possible to divide the Allison property into forty acre divisions I would have suggested that that would be satisfactory; but after going over the land it appeared it would be better to make the division as outlined above. I may state that the proposed settlers for the Allison property are all friends.

In conclusion I may" point out that our Society is not leading in the proposal to allocate some of its funds for the purpose and settlement of land for soldiers. Auckland has allocated £100,000 for a special settlement at Mangere, proposing to make the areas from five acres upwards. Wairarapa has given a large sum to their training farm which is to be run by the Department of Agriculture. Canterbury some time ago allocated £10,000 for land purchase and settlement, and many other Associations are doing all they can in the same direction.