SOLDIER FARMERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 77, 8 September 1947, Page 5

SOLDIER FARMERS

10,000 SETTLE ON LAND STATEMENT BY MINISTER “More ex-servicemen than ever seem anxious to go on to the land, in spite of many gloomy statements to the contrary,” says the Minister of Rehabilitation (the Hon. C. F. Skinner). “An estimate made by the Rehabiltation Board last year was that altogether about 8,000 ex-ser-vicemen of the recent war would require to be settled on their own farms with rehabiltation assistance, but an exhaustive survey just completed indicates that the total number will be about 10,000. This, of course, includes more than 4,300 men already settled, so that we shall evidently have to provide farms for another 5,700. “Even though our task is now rather greater than it at first appeared, the Government, and the country, will welcome this manifestation on the part of so many exservicemen of a strong desire to go on the land, which will always be New Zealand’s greatest productive asset, and the basis of our whole economy,” said Mr Skinner. As had already been the case, said the Minister, the great majority of the men settled would no doubt go on to single-unit farms, mainly freehold, that they had themselves negotiated for. On the other hand, the rate of settlement on Crown subdivisions was steadily increasing, and this acceleration was expected to be maintained in the future. “There should be at least another 2,300 men settled during the next two years, and of these about 800 will be on Crown blocks and 1,500 on freehold farms,” said Mr Skinner. To the end of 1943 the number of men settled on their own farms was' 179, in U 944 it was 442, in 1945 it was 883, and 1946 saw another- 1,828 men settled, with another 200 working for wages with the promise of titles. At the end of June 1947, a further 594 men had been placed on farms, with another 316 working on land development blocks, with titles promised. By the end of 1949 the total should be at least 6,600 —about 5,000 on singleunit farms and at least 1,600 on Crown subdivisions.

Few Discouraged

“It is particularly pleasing to note that in spite of the great difficulties preventing a faster rate of settlement very few ex-servicemen graded “A”, that is, fully qualified to manage their own farms, have dropped out of the running. Though some of the rerrfainder are at present in non-farming employment, the great majority of those eligible for farm assitance are still determined to make a go of it as soon as we can assist them, and I may say that is the type of young New Zealander we want on the land,” said Mr Skinner.

Many difficulties had been overcome during the past year, when there had been a steady improvement in the rate of settlement, but two main problems were still there —housing on farms and lack of fencing wire. The Government had been doing it all it could to solve these problems, which were being gradually overcome, said the Minister. Temporary Accommodation

“Meawhile, after repeated representations by the Returned Services Association and some of the exservicemen themselves, the Rehabilitation Board has decided to allot some sections .without permanent housing, on a few selected blocks where temporary accommodation can be obtained; and allow the settlers themselves to arrange for the erection of their own homes with rehabilitation finance,” said Mr Skinner, adding that this would be a departure from the usual practice of having such houses built under departmental arrangement. It was felt that in some cases the ex-ser-vicemen themselves, by their own personal contacts, would be more successful in prevailing upon builders to carry out the necessary work, than would State Departments. This, in turn, would release staff and plant to other- blocks with a resultant speeding up of land settlement generally. If the experiment was successful it would be extended, particularly on sheep farming properties. The possibility of prefabricating houses for section on land settlement subdivisions was also being thoroughly investigated. “As for fencing wire, the Lands Department is erecting only sufficient fencing on settlement block 5 to maKe the units workable,’ said Mr Skinner. “Settlers will be provided with financial assistance for the additional fencing required when the materials are available.” Encouragement To Sell “The Rehabilitation Board wants to encourage as many intending

vendors as possible of all kinds of farms to sell to ex-servicemen,” said the Minister, “and with this in mind, I should like to repeat an assurance I have given many times in the last year or two, namely, that I will not operate Section 51 of the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act, for compulsory acquisition, where a single-unit property is offered for sale to an ex-serviceman. If the price fixed by the Land Sales Committee is not acceptable to a vendor selling to an ex-serviceman, he may withdraw the property from, sale.

The Board was still adhering, to the policy of acquiring properties for servicemen settlement only - when they were, in a reasonably improved state, said Mr Skinner. As ~ the supply of materials and plant improved, the Board felt .that in. certain districts properties might be acquired which at present seemed likely to take to long to develop to be of any real use for rehabilitation. Any spectacular speeding up of land acquisition seemed impossible under existing conditions, but every effort would be maintained in the ing of suitable land for rehabilitation purposes. Milking Plant Available

There had been no difficulty in. obtaining sufficient supplies of milking plant and farm implements, but tractors were still in short supply, said Mr Skinner. This latter difficulty was being largely solved by the operations of agricultural contractors. ' ;v/

Another special fertiliser allocation was'expected this year, and the position would soon be back to prewar standards, while the provision, of good livestock presented few problems. The New Zealand Dairy Board had agreed to continue the scheme whereby well-bred calves were purchased by the Lands Department and made available later to s ex-servicemen. Under this scheme over 5,000 calves have been purchased for the stocking of dairyfarms for ex-servicemen.

“North Auckland, Auckland, * Hawke’s Bay and Wellington are considered to present the greatest settlement - problems at present,’" said the Minister, “but taken overall there has been a marked irrv** provement.” j