A Land Fit for Heroes?

Ernest James Allum’s block of land consisted of 318 acres in the County of Clarendon, Parish of Wallace, Land District of Wagga Wagga.[1] He applied for his advance on 31 March 1920.  After writing in May asking why there was a delay in receiving it, as ‘he needed it to get seed wheat’, it was eventually approved on 5 May 1920.[2] 

An inspection of the property carried out on 23 May 1923, reported that Allum was married, that continuous residence had begun on 11 April 1920 and he was a satisfactory settler with reasonably good prospects.[3] 

On 24 January 1930, Allum applied for an extension of time to make his repayments until 28 February 1931 which was granted.  Allum had a very bad year in 1931 and was short of money to tide him over until the next harvest.  He applied to have an amount of £135 made available from his advance for payment for machinery.[4] The District Surveyor believed that to agree to this, ‘would place the Department in the position of a moneylender’.[5] 

Allum’s block was not considered to be large enough for a home maintenance area and it was suggested that after a reasonable time, he be allowed to take up a property in another area.[6] He was still on the property in April 1932, when it was noted that even though he had experienced a succession of adverse seasons, he should make a special effort to reduce the amount of his arrears.[7]    His debts were not considered large however and it was thought that if he obtained a satisfactory return from his farming operations that he would be able to recover.[8] 

Around November 1932 Allum proposed transferring his Settlement Purchase

as he was finding it impossible to continue on his holding.[9] 

The original capital value which amounted to £7 per acre totalled £2,220.15.0.  Allum wanted £5 per acre but the Closer Settlement Branch would not agree to anything less that £8.8.0 an acre as the amount outstanding was £2,666.00. To accept £5 per acre would mean writing off a considerable amount.[10]

There is nothing to indicate if the property was transferred and Allum had repaid his advance by April 1934.[11] 

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW:  Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/6986 No. 4102] Application for loan, 31 March 1920.

[2] Ibid, E.J. Allum to the Director of Soldiers Settlements 1 May 1920;  Application for an Advance 4 May 1920. 

[3] Ibid, Inspect of Returned Soldiers’ Holdings 23 May 1923.  

[4] Ibid, District Surveyor to the Under Secretary for Lands 10 February 1930. 

[5] Ibid. 

[6] Ibid, Southern Central Home Maintenance Area Board Report 17 January 1930. 

[7] Ibid, J. Herlihy Under Secretary to E.J. Allum 11 April 1932. 

[8] Ibid. 

[9] Ibid, Officer in Charge Closer Settlement Branch Report 21 November 1932. 

[10] Ibid. 

[11] Ibid, Department of Lands Memorandum 12 April 1934.

Sources used to compile this entry

State Records of New South Wales:  Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/6986 No. 4102] Ernest James Allum

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Ernest James Allum) online: http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=3032361&I=1&SE=1