WISH TO BE FARMERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 23, 13 November 1945, Page 8

WISH TO BE FARMERS

SERVICEMEN APPLICANTS REVIEW OF POSITION Twice as many ex-servicemen have so far been graded for dairying as for sheep farming. This information is contained in the monthly review of the Rehabilitation Board, w T hich gives the number graded for various types of farming as follows: Dairying 1824; Sheep 914; mixed 720; sheep and agriculture 38U; horticulture and market gardening 108; fruit 90; poultry 86; farmlets 73; tobacco and hops 36; bees 26; agriculture 25; and pig farming 9, Of the 4.110 men so far graded, 2967 returned men and 36 discharged home servicemen have been classed as qualified for immediate settlement. Of these approximately 917 have been settled (plus about 300 settled before the grading system was; introduced) leaving 2086 awaiting farms. Most of these are.: working with private employers, anid 90 are employed by the Lands Department on sub-divisions of development blocks with the promise of titles. A total of 374 ex-servicemen had completed some form of farm training as at September 30 a further 482 were actually undergoing training at that date ? -while 88 had failed to complete their courses. Approved trainees available for placement with private employers as at September 30 numbered 146, while approved farmers awaiting trainees as at the same date totalled 108. Of those ex-servicemen undergoing farm 355 were with private farmers, 133! at the Wairarapa and Homewood Training farms.