AGY-3837 | Returned Soldiers Branch [II] [Department of Lands]

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In August 1922 the Returned Soldiers Branch changed from one which reported directly to the Minister to one that was responsible to the Under-Secretary of the Department of Lands. (1) The branch was mainly concerned with receiving applications for settlement from returned servicemen, and if satisfactory settling the family onto a suitable allotment, and rendering financial and other assistance to the settlers. It operated under the Returned Soldiers Settlement Act, 1916 (Act No 21 1916) as amended. In 1923 the Commonwealth Government placed a ceiling of 8405 on the number of soldier settlers in NSW. (2) Few former soldiers made a successful transition to life as settlers, many transferred, forfeited, abandoned or surrendered their holdings ( of the 8445 soldiers who had taken land by 30 June 1923, 1292 had withdrawn form the scheme) and of those that remained many experienced financial hardships. The Returned Soldiers’ Settlement (Amendment) Act 1925 provided means of relief by waiving, or remitting all or part of moneys due and by extending the terms for interest, rent and purchase money although the farmer renounced the right to appraisement of the capital value of its holding. (3) The Closer Settlement and Returned Soldiers Settlement (Amendment) Act, 1927 provided for returned soldiers to apply to the local land board for the re-assessment of the value of lands held under soldier settlement acts (minus the value of any improvements since purchase.) (4) In these cases the decision of the land board was subject by the Land and Valuation Court. (5) The Act resulted in reduced payments for many returned soldiers and was in force initially for two years but was extended in 1931, 1932 and 1935. The purchase of new settlements declined and it would appear that by 11 June 1936 the Branch combined with the closer settlements branch to become the Closer Settlement and Returned Soldiers’ Settlement Branch. (6) Endnotes:
(1) Department of Lands report for the year ended 30 June 1923 p. 3 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1923 vol 1 p. 255
(2) Loc. Cit.
(3) Department of Lands report for the year ended 30 June 1926 p. 7 in NSW Parliamentary Papers Second Session 1926. Vol 1 p. 149
(4) Closer Settlement and Returned Soldiers Settlement (Amendment) Act, 1927 s. 2
(5) Ibid s. 2 (9)
(6) Public Service List 1936 p. 72-73 Reference
Harvey, Brian "Land for the People: a history of Land Settlement in New South Wales." Prepared for the Department of Lands. n.d. (1959?)