LAND SETTLEMENT POLICY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 803, 28 April 1910, Page 10

LAND SETTLEMENT POLICY.

A SEVERE CRITIC.

•Some uncomplimentary criticisms, of Now-Zealand's land- settlement methods are made in the "Pastoralists' Review" for April by Mr. George Cox.

"lii both the Commonwealth and the island Dominion," he says, "an effort has; been, and still is, being made ' to . turn-the townward tide of population ' back to the land. In New Zealand this movement might- almost be styled tremendous. The .'powers that lie seem, ready to move heaven and earth to get ' more men. on the land. In a : - measure ' they'have been successful. . There is a decided, and, I * believe, a growing exodus from the...shop, the factory, and the ofiieo to tlie farm. But of these divers recruits how many will ever make farmers? In all probability the percentage will not be high. They are 'a - growing brake on farming advancement. They take up sections and work them on primitive, rule-of-thumb methods. If

they attempt agriculture, they achieve soil exhaustion; if dairying, .the perpetuation of scrubbers and disease, and a ..naturally -high; percentage of them will end in the bankruptcy court. "The Now Zealand Government has experimental and model farms, a-few peripatetic instructors, and agricultural colleges.' But'these advantages fail to appeal, to the Tom-Dick-and-Harry-live-to-mate-money type. That is to say, in nine, cases out of ten, they 'do not appeal to the very , man who needs them most\ Soon this motley class of rule-of-thumb croppers and scrubber dairymen will hold nearly-half the lands of New Zealand and a tidy portion of , those of 'Australia. The Governments of these ; countries,; by' their' wofiil.. lack' of discrimination, are entrusting the most Important, industry., in,, .the ..country—

. that , : of. farming—to a motley liost, a :i .' majority of whom are..ignorant of' the .' first principles, of tho art. • . Some of these men might have , done well, -in! . town, others again , are. life's wrecks. ;In a Waikato harvest field 'were six men. One was an ..ex-insurance a'gent, : another had been a factory foreman, a third a reporter, and, presto, the fourth a tailor's cutter! Only the remaining two were born farmors... Most of these men had failed to stand the bufferings of their old occupations, had . been stranded by the ware of competition, and come to the farm to make upon it; perhaps, the greatest failure of all. ■Progress in agriculture and.pastoralisation will.be hampered-for generations; by this reckless policy, of nlacirig all sorts and conditions upon the land. . ■ "Why should not the rpspective Governments make a'law compelling raw

■recruits to servo , a few seasons' apprenticeship upon the nearest. State farm?:' Here they might be' paid :: as labourers, ind instructed in th? first, iPrinciples of whatever branch of farming •they intended to follow. •'Where .the State farms; could. • not iall such, leading farmers would probably undertake to .'train • the surplus.; Some system of-compulsory, training for. ;4he sons of such.raw recruits, after their' parents have taken, up Jand, might fol>low;with advantage to both the State and the individuals concerned.- In New Zealand a- movement - has .been com- . irpnced towards taking' lads upon' Government farms, and .while learning their

professions they will also receive wages. So far as it .goes this'is an excellent plan, but; it leaves out the class under •'discussion, for usually these new-chum •settlers can ill afford to allow even one, : able-bodied youth to leave the- place." Mr. Cox concludes his-article by ad- : .' locating share-farming for. beginners on the land. ■ "'' v .-