SMALL FARM BILL

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 34, 10 February 1933, Page 9

SMALL FARM BILL

MINISTER HOPEFUL

BUDGETARY POSITION

EFFECT OF EXCHANGE

An optimistic view ox the possibilities of tho Small Farm (Relief of Unemployment) Bill was taken by the Minister of Finance (the Eight Hon. J. G. Coates) when replying to the second reading debate in the House of Bepresentatives last night. The Minister also touched on the budgetary position and the effect of the raising of the exchange on tho State finances. Mr. Coates said that he had in mind tho increasing of the national income by closer settlement. If New Zealand was a national farm, as had been said, then it could compete with other countries. Secondary industries would grow, but tho future of the Dominion must rest on the .primary industries for many years; the land mainly was the normal occupation of the people. Closer settlement would bring about an increase of exports, and it was desirable that that should be so. ' ■ , TREASURY ESTIMATE. Regarding the Budget deficit, Mr. Coates said that the most that could be attributed to the raising of the exchange was £3,050,000, which were tho Treasury's figures. Prior to any talk about the exchange the deficit was said to be £0,100,000. The real policy was* to save the Unemployment Fund and to make people independent of it. The settlement already carried out had resulted in a saving to the Unemployment" Fund of £20,000 That was computed- on 500 families, taking the average assistance at 30s a week, although tho average was perhaps nearly £2 a week. Those families had made no more than 15a a week average, and 50 per cent, were off the Unemployment Fund. 0" that basis, surely the Government was justified in asking the country to endorse something that would savo the fund."' He would, say -that there would be a demand for everything that New Zealand could export in the British Empire. Mr. Coates said, that some of the most successful farmers, of the present day had started as small settlers. '...■' ' .*'.' TO-DAY'S PRICES. Mr. A. S. Richards (Labour, Eoskill): Prices were much lower than they are to-day. ... ■*■' ■ . .. Mr. Coates:. Indeed, no*. There are many cases to-day in which land can be obtained for a rental value as low aa 4s per acre and up to 9s per acre. Mr. A. J. Stallworthy (Independent, Eden): There are bigger markets today than there were then. Mr. Coates: There were no markets at all then.' Mr. v ßicharas: "What about rates? Mr. Coates agreed that rates were an item. He said that, the idea, was to estimate the cost per cow, and with present prices it was considered that a reasonable price was 30s per'cow.-He had Sever argued that land settlement was a cure for unemployment, Wt he believed that thousands of men who were on relief to-day could be given new heart and new homes under the Bill. They would have the opportunity of—becoming successful settlers and their efforts would add to.the national income. They would be in a position to rear families which would have a chance in life.' : Mr. Richards: How many settlers do you' hope to'settle during \the current year? . . -■■■ *.■•-• . Mr. Coates said that it was hoped to settle 5000, but this would not be accomplished in one year.' He -was sbrry that the Opposition had" hammered at the Bill, as he thought that he would have received some assistance from the other s;de of the House. '.""■■■The * Committee stages of the Bill had not been completed when the House adjourned at midnight.