A Land Fit for Heroes?

 William Lane’s block was a part of Bective Estate a Soldiers’ Group Purchase No. 1922.20  in the County of Parry, Parish of Somerton, Land District of Tamworth. The property was situated 9 miles from Westdale Railway Siding and 14 miles from Tamworth. Continuous residence began February 1919. The property was to be used for wheat and sheep.  As of July 1930, Lane was married with five children, a boy 7 and four girls 9, 6 & 3 and a baby. His physical fitness was not good as he had his stomach crushed (was this the war wound??) which was affected by heavy work.  He was receiving a pension of 25/0 per week. [1]

 The file begins in 1930.  William James Lane was seen as an unsatisfactory settler at this date and was being investigated by the Local Land Board. It was recommended that he be given another opportunity and allowed to remain on his block until the end of 1930 subject to him painting his house and sowing 400 acres of wheat.[2]  By 12 March 1930, it seems Lane was attempting to improve and to accept that he had a responsibility (according to the Department) to his property.[3] Around July of 1930, Lane expressed an interest in obtaining a better block, which was to be considered.  He also received some relief with his repayments.[4]  By July an inspection of the property reported that only parts of the buildings had been painted and other parts had not been touched.  Lane’s workdelayed by wet weather was eventually completed.[5]

 Despite Lane being judged an unsatisfactory settler, consideration was given for him to obtain more land from an adjoining property of 570 acres which had been abandoned as his block of 420 acres was  ‘too small to be a home maintenance area’ –  900 acres was a better size for the district.[6]  It is unclear if this occurred. By March 1931, the Department of Lands held a lien over 1/3 of the proceeds of his last crop.  Further concessions were granted and the interest owing waived.[7] His situation was reported as being much improved by 15 July 1931.[8]  There were problems however with Lane accepting financial assistance from a Mr Seery over a period of several years during his harvest operations.  Seery had in turn received payment in wheat at 2/2d per bushel amount to £112.   Despite warnings from the Department, Seery continued assisting Lane.  Activities such as this were not to be undertaken without the Department’s approval.[9]

 Lane was allowed to remain in occupation until 31 December 1935, subject to various conditions that includeda 1/3 lien, additional horses being purchased and the sowing of 250 acres for the 1935-6 harvest. Lane despite being warned not to, in August 1934, again obtained assistance with his harvesting operations from J. Lock, his brother-in-law who was assisted by Lane in return without payment.  Lane was advised to sell out and should make every effort to obtain a suitable transferee.  Lane was unable to do so.[10] By 1935, his case was again judged to be an unsatisfactory one.  ‘Settler has no sheep and only seventeen head of cattle and no funds to purchase any stock or farming plant.  His chances of becoming successful must be regarded as remote and would not be allowed to continue’[11]  

The file ends January 1936.  It is unclear how long he remained on the property or if he did obtain someone else to transfer the block to.

 Footnotes

[1] SRNSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files;  [12/6852 No. 1180]William James Lane,  Report from Home Maintenance Board 4 July 1930.

[2] Ibid, emorandum RSS Branch 22 April 1930

[3] Ibid, Decision of Local Land Board 12 March 1930.

[4] Ibid, Memorandum Under-Secretary for Lands, 4 July 1920.

[5] Ibid, A.J. Ryan District Surveyor 22 July 1930.

[6] Op.cit Report from Home Maintenance Board 4 July 1930.

[7]Ibid,  Memorandum RSS Branch 4 March 1931.

[8] Ibid, Inspection Report 15 July 1931.

[9] Ibid, Memorandum, RSS Branch 8 August 1934.

[10]Ibid, 8 April 1935.

[11] Ibid.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW:  Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files;  [12/6852 No. 1180]William James Lane.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Williams James Lane) online: http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=7376485