MR M’LEOD’S POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1926, Page 1

MR M’LEOD’S POLICY

AIORE INFORMATION WANTED.

KAIKOHE, Eel>. 13. A definite statement that he would not give preference to immigrants over New Zealand-born persons in eonneet ion with land settlement was made last night by the Minister of Lands, Hon. A. D. McLeod, when replying to a deputation from the Presbyterian Church asking for Government assistance in placing young men from overseas on farms in the- north.

The Alinisler stated that he had investigated the Imperial Government’s emigration scheme, but so lar had not been able to see much daylight through tlie proposals. The New Zealand Government had been criticised lor not, making more use of the money provided by the British Government for overseas settlement. Considering that the Government had just completed a scheme for settling 10,000 returned soldiers, lie was not prepared to give place to any immigrant as likely to be more competent in farming land. There was little prospect of settling immigrants at a cost ot £SOO each, taking into account their knowledge of the conditions of New Zealand.

Air AfcLood said: “We cannot put a man on a comparatively small section ami give him anything like a. start under £IOOO or £I2OO. Western Australia found that tho scheme worked out somewhat the same there. Out of 400 men whom the Western Australian Government took under the scheme, the latest figures show that the settlement cost £2250 a man. The Imperial authorities only found £SOO of that, and over 51 per cent of the farms taken over were subsequently abandoned, while the men went into the towns. I am not prepared to embark on any scheme of that sort until T know a great deal more of the men likely to he available than 1 do at present. The most successful form of settlement has always been made by people who came into New Zealand, worked on wages, save a little money, and then bought up land for themselves. “If l had land available tomorrow that T was satisfied would he worked out- under the conditions mentioned, I could get 5000 or 6090 New Zea„ landers to take it up. The land we have is not available, and further purchti.se by the Crown would be too costly to warrant the course suggested. Land values have got to pome hack a long way before we get to the point where we can go in for satisfactory settlement by means of additional purchases.”

11l conclusion the Afinister said he knew of what- great value Church immigration had been in the past. However, although he had men in Now Zealand waiting to go on farms, he would not put them oil until he had experiments carried out to see H the land was worth, it.