The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY. JUNE 26, 1926. BACK TO THE LAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY. JUNE 26, 1926. BACK TO THE LAND.

Tjikiie is likely to l>e a concerted movo in political quarters to revive the lands for settlement policy of the Liberal regime. This is being forced on the country by reason, of the increasing population and the growing unemployment. In the Governor-General's speech at the opening of Parliament, it was stated that the- question of closer settlement was engaging the attention of the Government, and that “the gradual, reduction of land values to a basis giving a greater measure cf stability Inis enabled my Ministers to purchase areas for sub-divis-ion.” Those purchases, ii is understood have taken place in the Wairarnpa and Dargaville. districts which both have Ministers for representa--fives, the Minister of Lands representing the former and the Prime Minister the latter. There will he no obligation even to that color of favoritism, so long as the policy is continued and extended. In both instances the demand for land was in excess of the supply of available sections, and several applicants anxious to go on the land are still landless—full justification lor further action in securing additional lands for settlement, and in particular, closer settlement. As to the latter aspect, in the recent debate on unemployment in the House of Representatives, Sir Joseph Ward ihas expressed Ids pleasuro at hearing the Minister of Lands declare, with the full authority of the Government. that the Ministry would “not hesitate to put the compulsory clauses of the Land Act into operation.” Although the Minister hastened to qualify his statement by adding that,lie was not going into Court “with values jumping up and down as they have been doing,” the expressed willingness to acquire land for closer settlement should prove of value as a spur to action later on. Values of land are on the whole declining, a movement which is in keeping with prices for commodities. But prices for land had reacjied to a high level in many places, and particularly in the North Island. Mr McLeod might well look for land elsewhere, if lie is henl on putting the compulsory clauses of the Land Act into operation, where land less costly is required. When in. Hokitika some little time ago. the Minister of Lands spoke very seriously about land values, and it was clear be had a good grip of the situation from the national point ■of view. lie impressed his hearers at the time as being the man for the task of handling the land question with prudence and a due regard for all the interests affected. His knowledge of values throughout the Dominion must lie well fortified now, following his comprehensive tour of New Zealand. The country will look to him with a good deal of confidence to make good on the lines of his own speeches, ft was in that, respect no doubt Sir Joseph Ward applauded the remarks I of Mr McLeod. for the ex-Liberal Premier would feel a. good deal of confidence in the plain statement of fact which the Minister made on the subject. However, the- time is past now for further speech-making. Action is called for hv reason of conditions within the. Dominion. It is for the Minister, as for the. Ministry, to show sincerity along the lines of policy declared. The finding of more land for settlement is an urgent need of fho times, and if sound judgment is shown in the purchase of the land, it will be for all time a stood asset in regard to any State advances which have to he made. The Liberal Land .Policy governing lands for settlement was a great success in the face of marked opposition, and under conditions much dissimilar from these times. But from th? inception of the scheme, by tlie sound principles governing the | purchase price, success was achieved

Mr McLeod in addition to liis own knowled{33, has the departmental experience of the past, to guide him. and with the solid majority behind the government, nothing should delay the practice of a policy which will tell so

much in regard to the enduring prosperity of the Dominion.