WORK FOR THOUSAND MEN

Evening Star, Issue 22147, 30 September 1935, Page 14

WORK FOR THOUSAND MEN

RECONDITIONING GROWN LANDS [Peh United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 28. A scheme which would not only Provide for the utilisation of a large pro- . portion of the unemployed labour, but also recondition and salvage existing Crown securities and ultimately • permanently remove from the unemployment register a considerable number of men, was outlined to-dav by the Minister of Lands, Sir Alfred Ransom. He pointed out that in the central paxt of the North Island there were great numbers of abandoned Crown sections which should and could be profitably developed provided the costs of the labour and supervision were not loaded on to the land. Generally these holdinf's were found to be too laige loi the financial and practical the former holders, whereas n subdivided and developed they would provide for two or more families a better living than that which was obtained bv the former occupier. . . The development and the provision of access to these lands would provide immediate employment for 500 men, and within, six months that number could be increased to 1,000 or 1.000. The scheme was really an extension of the Small Farms’ Board’s operations, and could be operated under the existing legislation. The securities mentioned, were deteriorating, and was only a matter of time when the Crown s mortgage interest would vanish if somo°ac(;ioii were not taken. Sir Alfred Ransom said his proposal was to start with the securities the Government had on hand and recondition them with free unemployed labour, the Small Farms’ Board finding the capital cost for materials, etc. All the departments connected with the scheme would bear their own supervision and administration costs. “ As the scheme proceeds we could arrange to take over, other doubtful securities from the Mortgage Corporation. In those cases where the original settler is still in occupation of a property he can, if he is suitable, be made foreman in charge of the camp reconditioning the farm, and he can eventually bo allotted one of the sub-, divisions. This would assist the present occupier whose position to-day is hopeless,” i Sir Alfred Ransom said it was felt that with free labour u fair proportion of the Crown’s mortgages could be salraged under the scheme. 'The major benefits would be:— 1. Tbe immediate employment of a large number of unemployed men on definitely productive work. 2. The ultimate establishment of a large number of families on the land, such settlement commencing not later than two years from the beginning of the development operations. 3. The profitable utilisation of lands which now were not only unoccupied and unproductive, but on account of infestation by noxious weeds and rabbits were a menace to adjacent farm lands. 4. The scheme embodied the salvaging of . a large sum of public money which otherwise would be irrecoverable. 5. It gave assistance to the existing settlers whoso position was at present Hopeless.