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Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1922, Page 2

With regard to assistance to foster settlement in Westland, just mentioned, much could lie done by helping to direct private ownership in the way of cutting up or otherwise leasing the larger areas, much of which lies fallow an,l unused most of the year. On every settlement in the district there are many areas far beyond the means and capacity of tlie owners to deal with advantngeoiislv. with tlie result that several notable districts are not producing anything near their capacity. A'ot these districts have been muled and bridged, and the land advanced in value accordingly. The unearned increment from the public expenditure should bo appreciated by the owners, in adopting some scheme whereby the lend might he utilised. There is such a fine district for instance as Tvoiterangi. with fully 20.000 acres of first class land ami capable under a closer settlement system of maintaining upward of 200 families. If the district were settled according to its possibilities, the product from tlie land, assuming dairying were followed, would bo sufficient to keep two factories going, apart altogether from the Kokatnhi side. And Koiternngi, is not an isolated instance of this character. There are other distriefs capable of great industrial development, if the land were occupied in smaller areas. The craze for the freehold has caused many of the holders to spend all their substance in acquiring broad acres and leaving themselves without tlip means to develope the land, or stock inadequately. Tt would bo far better in many instances if tlie holders of the land had acquired smaller areas, and the money saved thereby could linve been utilised for development purposes. -Tn that way a quicker and more direct return to the owner would result. The freehold craze in many instances means that the owner holds tlie land nominally for it is mortgaged to the money lender, and the alleged freeholder is working for someone else and paying a high premium in interest fo t - the nominal privilog of holding the land.

Tiieiik are many instances in Europe 'and elsewhere where the success uf the small landowner has been fully demonstrated. But we need not go so far afield. In Westland there is the Arnhurn Valley where the land held in small areas is carrying a flourishing dairy farming community. And mark you the land is not freehold! It is in thy main native lands leased to the occupiers at satisfactory rents. Those on thp ]apd hare not invested large

sums in the purchase of the. holdings. The money "as diverted to production instead—to an improvement of the land and its enhanced productivity. In that way the settlers "ere on a sounder cc - 1101*11 ic basis than the freeholder else where who bought, a la; go area at a ling price, and is paying interest to the money lender, while the f ruin st.uggls on with the improvement of his land under very difneii.t ei.cum stances. hampered as he is for t-'-e want of money. At regular intervals ho has to meet his interest payments, which is the annual liability of the Ara. lima farmer. Those who know the history of the Arahura settlement "ill understand and appreciate the value of the leasehold system, in buil ling up the fortunes of the settlers. A\ hat has been dent- there could well ho exten !- ~,j to other parts. Where a, land owner has hundreds of acres of land indifferently. used, he would be wise to cut t''o area into suitable farms and lease them, lie would be helping himself to mret his obligation. Ho would he assisting to place his fellowmen on the 1 nd. And he would aid materially the productivity of the district. He would increase the value of the- land about him—his own particularly and would

li,. a factor in the country’s progress—not a brake. Ho we would hope for

more settlement and closer settlement if Westland is to come quickly into irs own as the Taranaki of the South Island. i