The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TURESDAY, OCTOBER 20th, 1923. UTILISING WASTE LANDS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TURESDAY, OCTOBER 20th, 1923. UTILISING WASTE LANDS.

Thk question* of Imperial and junior immigration will be thoroughly gone into at tlio meeting of the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at Wellington this week. The basis for discussion will Lt a somewhat voluminous report, v.'iim.. after detailing tic- main join's of the Empire Settlement Act of i.Od >avs • "The very existence of Nev.- Zeabit d as an entity on her o.vi and as ] art the British Empire depends upon filling the country as rapidly as possible with a loyal, hard-working population so as to obtain the extra production necessary for our well being. Any largo influx of immigrant settlers should be absorbed by some sound policy in order not to disturb the well-being of iho countiy. Unless a practical scheme ol land settlement. i>- provided, any considerable influx might add to our national difficulties in sue ad )af solving them, by increasing our unemployed. It will he necessary to regulate immigration in such a way as to add to, rather than embarrass, our industrial progress. The most feasible methods of absorbing the settler immigration seem to be : (1) The settlement of all suitable Crown lands straight away—preferably by immigrants with a little capital. These lands could be paid for on the amortisation principle by the immigrant purchaser, and no rent or interest charged for ten years, (2) The settlement of the gum and pumice regions | under the provisions of the baste lands development schemes outlined in the

hand Laws Amendment Act. 1010. (3) Farm labourers. Section 11 of the Land Laws Amendment Act. of 1010, is tiif skeleton round which tlio Lands Department intends fo fonmilat'e. a working scheme for the improvement of the pumice land and gum land of the north. The .settlement of this class of Inner on a large scale has never before ljeen attempted, so the carrying into effect of provisions of this Homestead Act is a matter of great national importance. The gum lands which have been devastated by digging and which have lost their humus by burning, can be converted into fertile farms by bald work and by careful farming over a number of years. Experiments in the Swunxtoii district. Auckland Peninsula, go to show that it costs approximately £l-5 per acre to convert the rough leavings of the gum digger into smiling farms. The light volcanic lands of the thermal springs area demand careful and special farming, but once crops are properly established the ground proves faiily IVilde. The soldiers’ settlement at Heparoa, south of B<>t<>rtta, lias on the whole been sueecssiui. Recognising that the lands must ultimately be settled, the Lands Department lias had blocks of both kinds of land surveyed in readiue-.-s lor the inauguration of the Homestead Act scheme, but the limited finum,.. at the disposal of the Department lias pis', poued the s*-hem t > of settlement. Rlmm of all legal phrasing*, the main peiu's in the proposed scheme o! settdement are (D The settler is to be paid ilie current rate of wages bv the Lands Department, while tie is improving his section, but all advances so made will In- in the nature of a loan. (2) All expenses for road access, fencing, material implements, etc., will be debited to ib,, settler. (3) No rates levied by a local authority to be paid by the settler tor tour years. (-1) Provided the settler lias complied with all the condition*, of bis license to the satisfaction of the Board ho shall be entitled without payment to become the owner in fee simple of ids sect ion alter the expiration of seven years of the commencement of bis lheiiso.''