A Land Fit for Heroes?

 The file begins in 1929. William Wallace Stewart was sixty years old in 1930 and was receiving a pension of 23/- per fortnight.[1] In 1932, he was married and did not have any children. His block was a part of Bective Soldier Settlement – SGP 1922.31 in the County of Parry, Parish of Somerton, Tamworth Land District. The block of 993 acres was 23 miles from Tamworth. 

In 1930 Stewart called at the Land Board Office, with a peremptory notice from H.V. Mackay Pty. Ltd. to pay  an overdue instalment amount of £68.10.0 for a header.  His total wheat crop unfortunately amounted to only 946 bags which was not considered enough to sell.  In order to make the payment to H.V. Mackay, Stewart requested that money from the sale of the wool, which was held by Dalgety and Co., be used to pay the amount owing. [2]  This had not occurred by 15 September 1930 however as the wheat had not been sold due to prices being very low.[3] By November wheat from the previous year had been sold.  Stewart again requested permission from the Under Secretary to sell enough of his current wheat crop to pay expenses incurred for ‘taking off (the) crop and (for) bags and cartage’.[4]

In 1930 it was suggested by the Northern Central Home Maintenance Area Board that Stewart’s block was too small for home maintenance and that he needed as much as 1050 acres on which to make a living.[5]  He was subsequently advised that currently there was no other suitable land available.  At this date with his outstanding interest amounting to £103.9.4, his instalments were deferred until 31 January 1932 on the condition that he execute a lien over one half of his 1931 crop.[6]

By 23 April 1931 when his private debts totalled £92,  he had 3233 bushels of wheat in store against which he drew an advance of £123.2.6. As the wheat was worth £269.8.4 per bushel the Returned Soldiers’ Settlement Branch believed that the balance left – £146.6.10 – would be enough for Stewart to pay his creditors.[7]  What was problematical for Stewart, was that the RSS Branch would not waive the existing lien over the proceeeds from the 1930 crop.[8] Stewart continued to have trouble making ends meet and again requested permission to sell some of his wheat to cover his expenses.[9]  On 12 November 1931 some of these concession were granted, and ‘wheat to the value of £94.1.8 was released from the Lien to meet harvesting expenses’.[10]

By 19 January 1932, a substantial portion of his arrears still remained unpaid and he was notified that he would again be required to execute a lien.[11] He again requested an extension of time to make his repayments because of the depression and the low price of wheat and continued to have trouble making his repayments throughout 1932.[12] He was granted some concessions in January 1933 including a reduction in the Department’s lien over the 1932 crop which was reduced from one-half to one-quarter.  In the following year however, unfortunately for Stewart, while  his repayments were allowed to stand over until after the 1934/35 harvest it was only on condition that the lien was again raised to one-half.[13]  In April 1934, Stewart applied for unemployment relief but  was advised that the matter had been referred to the Board.[14]

On 19 May 1934 when executing his lien, he stated that he ‘wouldn’t be able to put in as much wheat (as hoped) as (we) are having a very dry time.  We have only got 30 acres ploughed but if we get rain will try to get 100 acres in the ground.  The ground is too hard to plough’. [15]

It is not known if he stayed on the land or if he repaid his advance in full.

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW:  Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files;  [12/6848 No. 1081] Northern Central Home Maintenance Area Board Report, 4 July 1930.

[2] Ibid, District Surveyor Ryan to Under Secretary for lands 18 February 1930.

[3] Ibid, W.W. Stewart to Under Secretary for Lands 15 September 1930.

[4] Ibid, 15 November 1930.

[5] Ibid, Northern Central Home Maintenance Area Board Report, Op.cit.

[6] Ibid, RSS Branch Report 4 March 1931.

[7] RSS Branch Report 23 April 1931.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid, W.W. Stewart to Under Secretary for Lands 17 October 1931.

[10] Ibid, A.J. Ryan District Surveyor to the Under Secretary for Lands 12 November 1931.

[11] Ibid, J.Herlihy Under Secretary to W.W. Stewart 19 January 1932.

[12] Ibid, Application for postponement of or extension of time to pay interest or instalments 28 January 1932.

[13] Ibid, RSS Branch Report 27 January 1933.

[14] Ibid, RSS Branch Report 10 April 1934.

[15] Ibid, W.W. Stewart to Under Secretary for Land, 19 May 1934;    O/C Securities 19 July 1934.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/6848 No. 1081] William Wallace Stewart.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (William Wallace Stewart) online: http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=3014456