A Land Fit for Heroes?

The Soldier Settlement block taken up by John Davies consisted of 675 acres and was in the Land District of Narrandera, Parish of Bourke and Lupton, County of Bourke. It had an estimated market value of £4.3.00 per acre and was part of Kennedy’s Farm (2), Maida Vale, Grong Grong, NSW.[1]  The block was a Settlement Purchase No. 1920/3.  Davies entered into occupation on 12 February 1919.[2]

On 31 July 1922 Davies wrote to Mr Buttenshaw  MLA stating that ‘(I) need time to take (my) crop off, and if the season turns out reasonable (I) will be able to pay a big part of the amount that is owing’.  He stated also, ‘I think in cases like mine, which is not an isolated one, consideration should be given.  If action is taken against me now, what will it mean after two and half years solid work, if I am pushed out when I am on the verge of success’.[3]

Davies stated that he was not in a position to meet his due payments and they were allowed to stand over until 28 February 1922.[5] A judgement was also given against Davies on 23 November 1922 in the Small Debts Courts Narrandera, to R. Hankinson, Merchant and Importer for an amount of £54.13.6.[6] A Conditional Purchase Inspector interviewed Davies around November 1924 asking him to complete a lien of £300 over the crops  he was currently growing.[7]  Davies stated he was not inclined to sign this lien, as he had previously given one to E.W.P. Quinn of Narrandera.[8]

On 16 December Davies was contacted by the under Secretary of Lands who stated:   ‘You were granted an extension of time for payment of advance arrears subject to the execution of an undertaking and crop lien.  As you have failed to complete and return the documents … I have authorised the Agent handling the sale of your wheat to pay £300 from the proceeds to the Minister for Lands.[10]

Around February 1924, Davies received an offer to sell his block above what it was worth, although he was not keen to sell. ‘I do not want to sell as I have put five year’s hard work in on this place. I have improved it from un-timbered paddocks and fences on three sides to a farm of five nice crop paddocks and I want to make it my home’.[11]

Sometime prior to 1924 he had more bad luck when his cottage was destroyed by fire.  Arrears on his holding for the years 1921 to 1923 amounted to £494.9.3.[12] It is not known if he stayed on the holding.

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW:  Lands Department;  NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files;[12/6900 No. 3023] John Brooklyn Davies, Application for loan,  12 December 1919.

[2] Ibid, Application for Extension of time to pay amounts due on Advance, 12 August 1922.

[3] Ibid, John Brooklyn Davies to Mr Buttenshaw 31 July 1922.

[4] Ibid, Under Secretary for Lands to District Surveyor 29 March 1923.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid, CP Inspector to District Surveyor Hay 13 November 1924.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid, RSS Branch Office Memorandum 2 December 1924.

[10] Ibid, Under Secretary to John Davies 16 December 1924.

[11] Ibid, J.B. Davies to Under Secretary 21 February 1924.

[12] Ibid, RSS Branch Office Memorandum nd.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW:  Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/6900 No. 3023], John Brooklyn Davies.

National Archives of Australia:  B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, (John Brooklyn Davies) online: http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=1900645