LAND SETTLEMENT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 205, 18 May 1918, Page 10

LAND SETTLEMENT

DAYS OF RANCHING OVER. In the course of his address at the annual conference of the Taranaki Farmers' Union, the president said: — "It is very pleasing to note that the new Minister of Lands, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, is reported to have said that the days of ranching in Now Zealand were over. This sounds like a hopeful note on a question that is of _ vital importance to all who take an intelligent interest in the welfare of this Domimon. If the days of ranching are over, I sincerely hope it moans that the State has awakened and will see the advantage and profit that will accrue to this Dominion ■of proceeding'in real downright earnest with a liberal land for settlement and assistance for settlers' scheme. I think that increased production in the near future is of the first importance to reduce taxation after the v-ar, and to help pay the war costs. To secure this all land in occupation that is not being made productive should be resumed by the State and used for closer settlement, where suitable. I would point out that tho Hon. Minister of Lands has an unique opportunity. The country is ready for an enormous increase in the number' of its producers, the necessity has arisen for that increase, and tho world needs the produce. At the same timo while asking that land settlement be pushed forward, it does not mean just to dump men on the land and leave them there to just exist. There must be means found to assist them to develop their holdings and bring them info a productive state with tho least possiblo delay. In order to ensure a contented and prosperous country population, good roads, telegraph, telephone, and postal facilities should proceed simultaneously with settlement, and the terms of occupation should 1)0 such as to bear very Jjrrhtly for the firoE' years. If evcr_ a Government had an opportunity to raise a monument to its usefulness \t is the present Government—creating a liberal and helpful lnnrte for settlement scheme and assisting the settlers financially and sympathetically. I spoke on those hnifs at our conference 'ast year, but the iniportanco of the sublet justifies repetition."