112 Soldiers Settlement Rd Featherston, aerial view 2018
Reason for the name
This road is one of many throughout NZ where farmlands were balloted for returning soldiers after WW1. The "N" denotes North as the road seems to have been a paper road and the middle section was not formed. Hence there is also a "S" Soldiers' Settlement Road.
During World War I the New Zealand Government announced that soldiers returning from overseas service would be given the opportunity to settle on farms of their own. The soldiers had to meet certain criteria in order to be able to work and settle on one of these farms. On their return New Zealand soldiers were greeted with the slogan: “Get back on the land.”
Authors: Written by Rachel Campbell and Kimberley Hewison
During World War I the New Zealand government decided that soldiers returning from active service would be given the opportunity to work farms of their own. The two reasons for this were men serving in the army had lost time and experience while they were away and therefore would not earn more on the salary scale. The second reason was the need for more settlement on larger farms, this would then increase food production. The Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act was passed in 1915 which gave a generous and large amount of New Zealand land to be settled. Large land blocks were subdivided into smaller farms and distributed to individuals as ‘soldier
settlement’.
Eligibility was required for settlement on farms, such as previous farming experience and how much personal wealth the applicant had to put into the farm. The applicant could choose which farm settlement they would prefer, however if there were more than one applicant then a ballot took place.
Over 10,000 war veterans settled on farms purchased or loaned from the Government. In all 4 million acres (1.6 million hectares) was made available to soldiers.
Unfortunately by the late 1920s many soldier settlement farms had failed and there were many unemployed war veterans which caused embarrassment for the Government at the time.
