FARM LABOURERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1680, 21 February 1913, Page 6

FARM LABOURERS.

__—« AN IMPORTANT SCHEME. SMALLHOLDINGS. OBJECTS AND SUGGESTIONS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association ) Auckland, February 20. Tho Government's promise to provide farm labourers with small holdings, thus inducing more labour to go into the country districts and at the - same time to give the labourer a chance to become an independent settler, bids fair lo result in definite action being taken very shortly. The first step towards the adoption of the scheme was taken in Auckland today, when. Mr. J. Lomas (Secretary of the Labour Department) and Mr. .1. D Ritchie (Lands Purchase Commissioner! conferred with the executive of the vrovincial branch of tho New Zealand Farmers' Union.' The scheme was first promoted by the Farmers' Union, and definite proposals for, the establishment, of small holdings were drawn up .1 short time ago .by tho union's executive, and submitted to the Prime Minister by a deputation recently. Tlkso proposals have been put into concise form, and wore discussed by the conference. The objects of tho scheme, which-were fully explained and discussed,'are as follow: — ' (1) To provide homes in the country for workers who will not lie solely dependent on work obtainable in n district. (2) To provide casual labour for districts whero it is requirrd. (3) ; To offer inducements to married men capable of general farm work to remain in the district by the knowledge that the life is better in every way and their expenses lighter, that they have an opportunity of rearing.families, and that their interests are identical with .their employers. (1) Tho men by being thrifty and conforming to certain conditions'can purchase tliQ freehold of the land under the easiest conditions, thus providing'."!: least a living iu itself if farmed rightly. (5) The men would ,by being profiteers themselves advance _an industry, on tho success of which New Zealand is pr ictically dependent. The Farmers' Union has. gone carefully into wavs and means of working such a scheme and making, it 0 practical asset to .farming conditions in the Dominiah. The suggestions how it is to be accomplished are summarised as follow:— 1

(1) The Government to provide, land in districts requiring labour and to erect suitable cottages thereon; the area 101 each home to be not less than five acres of first-class land! but- should the quality'of tho land decreuso then there should Won''increase of area accordingly; aud in no caso more than 30 acros of inferior land..,

(2) The tenure : under which tho'Gov. eminent should offer these sections., would be occupation'-with' right of purchase. ■ (3) Applicants should have knowledgo-of farming, and bo bound to "• conditions agreeable to the Government ■ for the carrying out successfully of tho scheme, thus Teaching the aims for which it was intended. ■'••••

•Tho means of determining where these small holdings ;are to bo established, would be the requests from districts which would avail themselves of advantages of such a scheme, and. applications/ from responsible settlers guaranteeing tho interest .would then decide the number of sections, to. lie allotted, whiih should on no account -exceed the requirements of the district. Upon completion of .tho survey and the erection of cottages thereon, the Government would hand over tho control of the property to a . rccognifed committee of guarantors, the Government to retain tho right to resume the control of tho property at any timo upon Relieving the guarantors of all responsibility. Both Mr. Lomas and Mr. Ritchie expressed. their hearty bf . the scheme, and tho conference discussed at length tho details of. putting it ' into, working order. In order to-ensure tho' Government/against financial loss the Farmers' Union Executive suggested that sottlers who benefited by the extra labour in their district would be willing to pay tho interest on the money expended by the Government in acquiring the necessary land. ■' 1 As the result of the conference, Mr. Lomas and Mr. Ritchii asked the Executive of tho Farmers' Union to write to the various farming districts to inquire:— (1) What labour was' wanted. (2) Tho average price of the land. (3) Tho general conditions for farming in each district. -. • (4) If any of tho farmers in each district would provide land for the purposes of the scheme, and, if so, at what cost. ■ As soon a# this information has been gathered, Mr. Lomas stated that the Government would send out qualified men to visit each district, and report upon the proposals'to Mr. Ritchie and himself; who, when they had satisfactory ownings of putting tlioiii into force, would recommend the Government to generally adopt the scheme. • .'. 1 . .