The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) SATURDAY, APRIL 5th, 1921. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) SATURDAY, APRIL sth, 1921. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

A CiiKisTciluitCH paper lately sighed for a return to the Ballance-Seddon McKenzie land for settlement policy which gave Canterbury its advantage hy the bursting up of large lauded estates. There is the belief that the time is l ine again for similar action to encourage and secure more population for the province, and generally to assist in lifting the South Island ahead. Now that the Coast is linked hy rail with the South Island railway system, it, too, could do with more land for settlement. There are many large pastoral areas up and down the C'cast, which if sub-divided, would carry a larger population and so ensure permanent progress. It is some decades now since 1 the Seddon Government reserved land at Kokatahi and Koiterangi, but circumstances have justified the step, and farms flourish where formerly stock only grazed. New Zealand at the moment is sadly deficient in a clear-cut domestic policy. The war and all its burdens have left constructive politics , in the backwash. Financial difficulties and obligations have marie a heavy call on Parliament and the administration, find attention has been devoted to tlu» task of endeavouring to overcome harriers to immediate prosperity. But it is the permanent condition of Dominion progress which is essential, and a stepping stone would be in the provision of more land for ready settlement. t..enp money and cheap land were the aids to prosperity under the Liberal regitno of other days, and the policy repeated’ would lead again to halcyon times. The land so provided would be in a condition ready for immediate itse, The country rushed into the soldier settlement scheme unmindful of the experiennee of the past, but desperate to settle the men on the land irrespective of condition or price. The wrong class of land was procured. Land in an improved condition as, for instance. the Cheviot or Horornta Estates would have proved a master stroke. Instead of that the country encountered disaster and defeat in the effort to do the right thing in the wrong way. New Zealand will pay heavily for a long time for the grievous mistake made, but the experience should be valuable for all time in the future. To acquire land for settlement requires patience and method. The Government has at its disposal the. machinery to glean valuable information on the subject. Through its Land Offices a census could he taken of all such large areas suitable for immediate settlement. The situation and price ef same could be well considered, and under the law of the land, areas could he acquired systematically, and a steady process of settlement, gone oil with. There are many within the Dominion anxious to settle on the land under favourable circumstances. Tlie country is doing a great deal in attracting population here, but if it had the land for settlement available there would be less propaganda worK necessary at Home. A land for settlement scheme would advertise itself and would draw hither people of means •who would prove the most desirable settlers. It is time politics in New Zealand took a practical turn to develope a domestic policy aiming to lilt the country abend permanently.

or stop work as a protest against the labor conditions or wages, and the places remain unfilled until invariably a compromise enters into the negOr tintions for a settlement, and the parties resume again. There is something radically wrong while this economic waste and dislocation goes on—and recurs so often. Now that a Labor Government is at the head of affairs there might bo reasonable hopes of something being attempted to stabalise labor conditions. The difficulty is now, as always, to find an authoritative body which can dominate the position, or to which the factions will submit. Conciliation and arbitration have failed to be effective. That is, the authority of the bodies appointed is flouted far too frequently. Conferences between employer and employee fail very readily because both are so directly interested. The obvious authority is a third independent body or combination of men to sit in judgment. The difficulty has been to select or choose a bench which will retain the confidence of the employee. Since labor laws came into,vogue, the employees have derived great advantages. These applied to wages, hours and working conditions. They were conceded at the outset with a general readiness which indicated that the reforms were necessary, and actually overdue. In putting up wages and reducing hours, and improving conditions of employment. necessarily the cost of production has gone up, adding to the sale price of the commodities. Living conditions became in turn more ccstlv, and while the initial increases gave relief, it was not long before the amount was inadequate for requirements. And since then the demands have been recurring till what has been described ns the vicious circle has resulted. A remedy should bo found if industrial peace is to result, and it is the opportunity of the Labor Government to work towards that end.