Small Farm Associations

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 76, 24 December 1891, Page 2

Small Farm Associations

[from a correspondent. There are about 50,000 acres allotted to Small Farm Associations within Pohangina Valley, all cut into 200 acre sections ; on the total area 250 families can be maintained. To give some idea of the assistance given to settlers by the Government not calling up the first 2 years rent, and also by doing the survey (both are paid for eventually by tha holders of sections) I may mention that the amount thus left in the hands of settlers during the first ten years is J4l per man (reckoning the^ surveying and roading at 2s 6d per acre) or in the lump a big assistance to small capitalists. In most cases it is noticed that the selectors under the Small Farm Regulations are men with families and of small means. The country at large is greatly indebted to Mr Macarthur for orginating the scheme of possession of land without payment for a certain period — and you know it has worked well on the Manchester Block. It is equally certain to work well on a large scale. There has been a good deal of talking among the " Liberal " ones about keeping the working man by giving him a " free breakfast table, customs duties &c, " but it all ended injtalk ; now here is a man who has really kept the working man.