The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1928. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1928. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

Adverting to the subject of land settlement mentioned yesterday, one is forced to realise the benefit of the Liberal leasehold policy, which led to so many people being placed on the land under the systems introduced by the Balia me-Seddon-Ward Governments. Snce those days the freehold tenure has become popular, but it has not helped land settlement, lieriuif-e there is no chance for the poor man, while the man who acquires freehold land usually does sir with the aid of a Cat mortgage which bears down more heavily than any leasehold rents. To give some permanent hope of prosperity in regard to land settlement in this country, there must Ire a reversion to the land for settlement policy of old whereby the State provides land and enables settlement to proceed on terms and conditions which will be attractive enough for the purpose. Under private ownership this is not possible, and that is one of the primary causes why progressive development is held hack at this juncture. If a test could be made we believe that the average settler would prefer to he on a State leasehold rather than the mortgagor holding a so-called freehold. The State terms were satisfactory and encouraging, and many hundreds of settlers found the State leasehold a stepping

.Kim' to subsequent allluence. Ihe leasehold principle is the easiest of ae. eouiplishmeut till round, and would undoubtedly permit of success by easy -luges, which taken .slop by step avoid -cl ion- pitfalls. Land, of course, has In he acquired by the State, hut with the exorcise of wisdom there is no ren--oii why more Cheviots should not he established in New Zealand. Tf each urea were dealt with its acquired, the holding could he made reproductive from the out-set. The laud for settlement policy ol the Liberals is infinitely more safe financially for the country than the nationalisation system favoured by the Labour Party. I hat system involves a huge expenditure with purchase under absolute compulsion, and the loading it is conceivable would lie such as to break down the success of the scheme so far its applit ants are concerned. The freehold at present is not achieving the volume ( f settlement desired, and it would appear it reversion to an active loase--1 old policy would he. the best course fir the country’s good. The cost to the country would not he large, unlliing in comparison with the initiation of a tint ionalisatin police. At present large sums arc being sjtolll oil rcliel

works in the endeavour (unfortunate|v without success) to tide over the present depression which" has created ~) many unemployed. What is being spent now is a large sum. hut for the same purpose, its the winter advances, it must he a larger sum still. The wisdom of diverting this money spen! hugely in a temporary way to permanent acquirement of land lot? settlement, and giving unemployed farmers a chance to become producers oil the area, is at once arresting. It is a policy which could he carried out piecemeal without any extraordinary expenditure and the value ol the policy could be tested as it proceeds. It is the safest and surest course of weathering the present difficulties, in regard l<> which the Government is without any positive action. There is no doubt in many localities it would he possible to institute a system of closer settlement, so that communities would become more compact. This would save extra cost for funding, the existing access meeting the position. That phase lias much to commend action in regard to a State effort to bring about closer settlement, and where roads or other similar expenditure is not in voiced, the land cost can lie dealt with accordingly. I'tider a scheme or'settlomcnt on such linos there arc great possibilities in the way of bringing ••bout greater production more quickly, and the country would the sooner reap the material advantage necessary. A forward land for settlement policy is iherelore a prom i-iug proposition at this juncture.