The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1926. A REVISED VERSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1926. A REVISED VERSION.

Thu Minister of Lands is revising the general statement which was attributed to bint .some little- time ago in regard to land settlement and the exhaustion of the settlement lands which appeared to give him grounds for believing that the country had reached its peak of production. Mr McLeod now declares that the Dominion must increase its production during tire next twenty yea is to an enormous extent, and there must tie an increase not only in value but in quality also. This is the obvious of course, and the Min-

iste.r's conclusions are encouraging in Hint to achieve wliut is absolutely desirable in tin* interests ol' \ew Zealand lie must revise the Liberal land policy, which was the redeeming feature for tbe eountry wlien circumstances forced the legislation to be. placed on the Statute Book. Mr AfcLcod lias been covering a little more of New Zealand si nee his North Island .speech, and la* has suggested two methods of attaining the result lie considers so necessary tor the well are ot the Dominion. He is reported by the “Southland News” to say that “.some people urged the development of waste, unoccupied lands such as pumice and gum areas, and parts of Central Otago. Others pointed out that we could get an enormous lot more out of our better class occupied lands than we did at present. That was perfectly true, but it would be necessary to have much smaller holdings ii intensive farming was to be carried out at its best.” In conclusion Mr McLeod made the definite remark: “Ate need a greater number of people, on the good lands of this country.” It is rather unfortunate that Hie Minister concluded just where lie should have been beginning. AA e should have expected him to follow- lii.s remark with a declaration of what lie was going to do to remedy the position which lie had discovered. As Minister ol Lands it is his duty lo do so. He has got on to the right lines for a policy movement. Perhaps lie has to convince his fellow Ministers in the Cabinet- before he may strike out—hut the duty is obviously before him to do so. The shortest cut to placing more people on tic land is to secure more of the good lands and by reducing big farms to many small holdings (as was done at Cheviot) he will be on the way to attain the results as regards more productivity which he- has declared >

essential (or t lio future prosperitv of New Zealand. All he lias to do is to put the old Liberal legislation In force again, by preventing the aggregation of large estates of good land, and to ensure “a greater number of people on tlie good lands” break up the large holdings which are not being tised as legitimately as they should lie. and so achieve the. greatest- good fothe greatest number. The matter is all important for this and the coming generation, and it is for the Minister recognising the situation to revise the Government land policy to the practical needs of the present time.