CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1455, 1 June 1912, Page 8

CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

:a farmers , union view. Closer settlement and increase in tho rural population are matters which will have to be considered by the incoming executive, according.to the annual report of the Hawke's Bay Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union. In the past, says' the report, the Hawke's Bay had been, given a bad name in regard to land monopoly, but the naino was not deserved. Subdivision of a vast area "of land must' necessarily be a slow process,' but nevertheless some forty estates hii'd been dealt' with since 1890. There was n6w a need for small suburban farms within the reach of town workers, and if the union desired the sympathy of the town worker it should do what it could in the direction indicated." The-late Government,-says'tho report, made several extraordinary purchases (luring the- latter part of their administration, such as Omahaki, for instance, which was useless for subdivision. As a sample .of State mismanagement, the report'instances how the purchase of the Manawanngi es'fnte was dealt with. The purchase was proclaimed over a year ago, the late occupiers gave up possession at.the beginning of the present year,' and yet the estato would not be open for selection till the end of June, in the middle of winter. Tho success of a farmer's' first year was all-important-to him, and he had n poor chance of success if he went on to his land in the middle of winter, when stock wns about 50 per cent, more costly than in February, and there was less to pick from. The report asks' if the District Land Board should not have some powers prior to the land being open for .settle-, meiit,' and be responsible for the prompt, disposal of land purchased for closer settlement.