SMALL FARMS PLAN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 59, 2 December 1937, Page 6

SMALL FARMS PLAN

-Pres» Association.)

Promises of Past Will Be Honoured minister;s assurance

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. An outline of his policy regarding the settlement of blocks under the Small Farms scheme was given to-day by the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone. He said that there was evidently an impression abroad that the promises of the former Government would not be kept, in that small farm settlers engaged on development blocks would not get leases, when the blocks were subdivided upon completion of development work. He wished to state that where a promise had been made by the farmer Government in this respect, it would be honoured, and that promise applied to the majority of original small farm blocks. He proposed to issue leases until such ' timo as statutory authority could be obtaincd for the issue of'more suitable leases. - The delay 'in the issue of leases might have been responsible for the impression that the promise regarding leaseswas not being kept. Hs could assure settlers that any promise made by the department - Or former Government would be kept. . The Minister made it clear that these remarks applied, only to original small farms, and not to blocks now being developed, or about to be developed. This was being done at standard rates of wages, but the workers had been given no promise vvhateve'r of later receiving farins. "It is absolutely essential," said Mr Langstone, "for the future sucees'sful settlement of these marginal lands, that they should be farmed unddr strict and proper " cohtrol. unt'il all the chances of reversion have disappeared."