LAND SETTLEMENT

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 41, 12 November 1926, Page 10

LAND SETTLEMENT

CONFERENCE NEXT; WEEK WIDESPREAD . INTEREST Dom inion Special. Auckiand.'Npyember 11. - Widespread interest ; is .being shown in all parts of New Zealand in connection -with the .land : s’etlement conference to be held in Auckland next Tuesday, and letters, congratulating the council of the Auckland A. and P. Association on its initiative, in •the conference are being received daily. Sir James Allen has accepted an .invitation to be present, and his' wide experience of Dominion affairs. will no doubt prove of great assistance in discussion upon subjects involving financial. and economic considerations. Mr. J. B. Thompson (Under-Secretary of Lands) will edme from - Wellington with the Hon. A. D. -McLeod (Minister of Lands 3 to take .part'.in the conference. An invitation" Was extended to the Acting-Prime Minister' (Hon. W. D. Stewart) who, however, has important engagements to fulfil in .the south. In a telegram to-day? Mr. . Stewart expressed his hope that - the conference would be a success. ■ It is expected that the attendance will be very large . as, ‘in addition to Government officials, -ninny representatives of local bodies and various associations and "societies from as far south ns Dunedin have signified their willingness to be present. Mr. E. A. Raiisdm, M.P. for Pahiatua, who is reoresehtirtg Dannevirke at the Roval ‘ Show, will take part in the conference". The question of land , settlement in relation to the dairy farmer is referred to bv Mr. W.' Goodfellow '(managing director of the New Zealand-. Co-opera-tive Dairv Company), in ut letter intimating his inability.'to, attend, the conference. “I would like to 'say that in niv opinion it will be found .unprofitabte-to bring in unimproved country, at ..present,” the letter..states :.“in. a few..years time, when costs have fallen, no doubt it will be again profitable >for -settlers to break in back country. If the position is examined carefully to-day, it will be seen that it will be cheaper for a farmer to buv." fully;' 'i'nipfdyed country. The. object of your discussion. I presume, is to increase? production. This obiective can he: achieved best bv the subdivision of fullv improved .country suitable for'/dairying ’■■ There is really 'only one difficulty to be overcome and that is-rthe:. Question of finance. At. the ,present .time." the large landowner is quite ‘unable to borrow monev on a longlterm., payment basis, and in conseouence.rtbe. subdivision of large estates is being retarded. I think the position would be met.adeauatelv if the Government? were to'.increase its lending limit from-£.3500 tc£. £10,0.00.. At the same time, some, of; the. restrictions imposed by the Department should be removed ” Mr.: Good fellow also expressed the opinion Hint? irt addition to the stimulation of herd-mstjng, .cbeyper manures and fertilisers-:■ are.,-Aneeded. Generally speaking, J’*' .-.rigid, dairy farmers on holdings- of 50 to 100 acres were making the best and if the whole of the Waikato were to be .subdivided, into such farms ;the population could be doubled-in a-Jew years.