TWO URGENT PROBLEMS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 145, 16 December 1929, Page 10

TWO URGENT PROBLEMS

(To the Editor.)

l,,S' rV; Ti le CoUtest- fol> th 6 Hutt seat has mought two questions very much to the tore, viz land settlement and unemployment. I hose two problems are so closely interwoven that the failure of one has '"ought about the cause of the other. Both Mr. Johnston and Mr. Coateß are makinc strenuous efforts to justify the Reform 1 arty s policy as it offectß these two problems, but one is inclined to doubt their sincerity. When the Reform Party catne into power, a land settlement policy tried and proved successful was in operation—a scheme whereby even the poorest could obtain land and successfully farm it. Lame estates were being cut up and offered to the public at a reasonable price. The Advances to Settlers Department provided cheap money and the country was pros-

After sixteen years of Reform Government the scheme has been made practically inoperative. Land is ridiculously high in price, and unemployment is rife. The high price o£ land ruling to-day is directly the cause of bo much unemployment. Can it be honestly said that the Keform Party was not in a large measure responsible for the conditions prevailing to-day, first by abolishing the leasehold system (thus causing speculation aud aggregation] and, second, by paying such ridiculous prices for land for soldier settlement? There was absolutely no excuse for the latter except lack of backbone. ■

We read that wool at Is per lb does not pay overhead expenses- for the sheepfarmers, and butter-fat under 1b fid per lb leaves the dairy farmer in a similar position. Can the most optimistic expect nigh prices for our produce to always prevail? Surely tho farmer is entitled to some margin of profit so that he can at least keep his holding from slipping backwards. On all sides wo hear the cry that the farmer has no rig Tit to buy a motor-car; that the purchasing of so many cars is the cause of unemployment. Piffle! The business man makes his profit and buys his car, and all is -well; but owing to the high price of land very few email farmers are making a profit. What does it matter if there is £29,000,000 in the banks awaiting investment, if the individual is poor, if the man who is makiDg this money (the farmer) hasn't a shilling to spend for improvements - Two things are necessary to ensure New Zealand's future prosperity: "Close settlement" and "cheaper land." Does the 'Reform Party stand for this? Mr. Coates

answered this question by his attitude in the last Parliament, when he stood solid and four-square for the big landowner wnen the United Government's super tax proposals were before the House. New Zealand s unemployed could be accommodated m one day if the average farmer was in the position to buy what he knows he requires. His increased consumption would mean increased production, which requires more labour.

■Uheii fcew>' Zealand's population is doubled or trebled then our secondary induslnfes may have a chance. In the meantime it behoves every patriotic New Zealander to support any movement that will assist in bringing about these desired cod. ditions.—i am, etc.,

Palmerslon North, 14tb December. "