GOOD WORK DONE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 126, 24 November 1932, Page 15

GOOD WORK DONE

FARM DEVELOPMENT

CONTRACT LABOUR SCHEME

.The Unemployment Bcftrd's farm development scheme known as No. 4B is regarded by practical nien as one of the most valuable, from a national point of; view, of • all the pfans- devised for increasing production-and at the same time placing unemployed men .in useful occupation, states. an official statement supplied to "The Post."

Briefly, the 4B is a scheme for providing subsidised labour. on a contract basis, the labour to be. utilised strictly for work of a, developmental character on farms. The work that may be undertaken under this scheme consists of bushfelling, serubcuttirig, rushgrubbing, stumping, and logging, drainage on farm lands, cutting new drains, and improving existing drains; fencing and ploughing virgin land, and developmental work of a similar nature. : '" Toward the labour cost of such work the Unemployment Board now pays, a subsidy of 50 per cent, (formerly 33 1-3 per cent.), and the fact that more than 2000 fanners have arranged contracts under the sehenie is an indication that its value is. realised. The actual figures for the scheme up to 15th November are as follows:—-Applications approved, 2036; men employed, 4358; subsidies, £45,000. VALUABLE WORK DONE. Following are details of some of the work accomplished as a result of this expenditure of money and human energy: Bushfelling, 18,682 acres; stumping and Jogging,' 6084 acres; scrubcu'tting, 63,159 acres; fencing, 30,712 chains; draining contracts, 25,368 chains; post splitting for fencing, 35,000;. battens, 143,000; ploughing .virgin land, 2639 acres; grubbing, 5176 acres; roading, 1000 chains. Already the effects of this remarkable farm-development campaign are noticeable in the largely-increased carrying capacity of most of the holdings where contracts under 4B have been carried but, and it now appears to be beyond question that the Dominion's primary products will be considerably augmented as a result. The areas already made available are expected tq carry approximately 90,000 additional sheep and 22,000 extra cattle...Gratifying- though this achievement is, another result that is even more, satisfactory is the placing in employment of over .4000 men and the probability that many of them will remain permanently on the land. ,

INCREASED APPLICATIONS.

The increase in the Unemployment Board's subsidy from 33 1-3 per cent, to 50 per cent.-of the labour cost of each contract has greatly stimulated applications by farmers for assistance in having developmental work carried out by contract.

Farmers are urged to use every endeavour to take advantage of the opportunities offered under this scheme. The necessary forms of application are available at post offices, Government Labour Bureaux, officers of the Lands and Survey Department, and from local unemployment committees. If the fullest advantage is taken of this scheme, continues the statement, it appears probable that many thousands of acres of now idle land will be brought into profitable occupation. The Unemployment Board is asking for the assistance of landholders who are prepared to expend'money and so tend to conserve the board's funds.