LAND SETTLEMENT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 57, 30 November 1937, Page 6

LAND SETTLEMENT

-Press Assoeiation.)

% u No Title for Unemployed Workers GOVERNMENT'S POLICY

(B* Teleerapb-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. An indication that it was contrary to the Government 's poliey to give a title to unemployed workers settled on the land was given by the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone, during consideration of the estimates of the Publie Works fund in the House oi Representatives to-night. He said that from 1000 to 1200 unemployed men were at present engaged on land de-) i velopment, and that there would soou be about 1500. The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, said that alF though the vote of the settlement of unemployed workers on the land was • reiatively small one, it was probably one of the most valuable. In his opinion this f orm of land settlement waa one of the most effective methods oi' dealing with the unemployment problem, for every man settled represented a permanent removal from the list ot. unemployed. Most of the unemployed settled on the land, said Mr Lai gstone, were engaged in the development of marginai l&nds. The- £486,000 comprising the vot» for the settlement" of unemployed workers was made tip of loan money amouuting to £300,000, and credits-in-aid totaling £186,000. The idea was that these men should farm the lands to get the best possible results. What Ahout Leases? "The question has been raised ot giving titles," Mr Langstone continued, "but I do not think it right to« give away £186,000 to a few settlers. A lot of hunibug tas heen talked about giving titles. The men have good - jobs, with a 40-hour week and standard xates pay." Mr Hamilton: What about granting leases? "Leases will be granted in those cases where they were promised by the previous Government," said Mr Lang-. stone. " The 'idea is to retrieve for the State the money that has been ' advanced.'' Mr K. J. Holyoake (Opposition, Motueka) said he thought it would be an inducement to give a title to the land if at all possible. It might not mean* much theoretically, but it would cer-. tainly have a good psychological effect. "The Minister amazed me wheh he said that these small farm settlers will have no right to a title to the land which they are farming." said Mr J. Hargest (Opposition, Awarua). "It seems that he is going to run the' whole undertaking on the lines of collectivo farming. If that is so I am willing te prophesy that there will be a huge loss. " "Cockroach Meetings." Mr Langstone: Oh, you always were a Jeremiah. Mr Hargest: I don't suppose the Minister has ever farmed an acre o>; land in his life. Mr Langstone: I was driving a fourhorse team when you were wearing knickerbockers. The poliey of the Government, said Mr; Hargest, was probably outlined in an article by the member for Kaiapoi, Mr O. Morgan Williams, who advocated colleetive farming. , The Chairman of Committees, Mr E. J-. Howard: There is nothing abont thet in the Estimates. Mr Hargest: There is nething abont knickerbockers, either. "Members of the Opposition should get out in the country and inspeet these schemes," said the Minister of Labour, Mr. H. T. Armstrong. "They would get more enlightenment and they would be dojng more good for the country than going round. and holding their little tin-pot cockroach meetings." The chairman: There is nothing in the estimates about dbckroaches. How members must stick to the item under discussion. "We are employing 1212 men on land development to-day," Mr Armstrong continued, ' ' and that is more than was ever employed by the previous Government. These men are not em* jji&y'ed at 17/- a week, but they arej earning £4 a week as a minimum. Some have ali^pady been set np in business as farmers. In countless other directions, money from the Employment Promotion Fund is being used for the benefit of farmers. ' '