LAND SETTLEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1929, Page 2

LAND SETTLEMENT

MINISTERS IMPRESSED. ( CHRISTCHURCH, February 11. "Laud settlement seems to come in waves and one is just on the rise in this country. .It is nothing in the nature of a boom, which is harmful, but on all sides I find a good healthy demand for land which 1 think the Government will he aide to supply. 11 is not true to say that we have reached anywhere near the limit of land settle merit in this country. TTis statement was made by the Min ister for Lands and Agriculture (Hon. .Mr Forbes) oir Saturday night alter a comprehensive tour of Canterbury. Otago, and Southland provinces. Tire .Minister for Public Works (.Hun. Air Ransom) also made this tour, viewing a lot of the country for the first time. What lie saw impressed him. and the new Ministers affirm their intention o'l providing facilities for a vigorous policy of closer land settlement. During his tour .Mr Forbes went among the people themselves to see what suggestions and criticismis they had to offer. There was no doubt-, liesaid, that land was being enquired for. The tendency would have to be towards closer settlement, and dairying offered great possibilities in the south. People who had big stations .running sheep were beginning to realise that they could not get the results which might be expected from more intensive treatment and stocking. In Southland particularly there were large tracts of land where this intensive settlement could be car.vicd out with great advantage, and tlw Minis ter, during his tour, had h.;ul many offers of land 'for this purpose. Mv legislation brought in at the .last Parliament settlors would he able to take up land on such subdivisions, and Ibe Government would provide up to 95 P" cent of the purchase money. The Government intended to devise other schemes of development to Intake the land attractive to the small holder. With the advent of topdocssing to the south, perhaps the most profitable venture of the future would lie dairying. for there was no doubt that the country, particularly in Southland was suited to it.

LAND CHEAPER IN SOUTH. Knowing North Island land values and conditions well, Air Ransom was able to compare them with what he saw in the south. In Southland lie could say values were much lower than in the north. What the North Island farmer would pay €4O for, the Southlander could buy for €25 an acre. This had had its effect in the north, for the farmer there, in order to make his land pay, had had to use the more up-to-date methods, such as top-dress- : ng. This was not a common practice in the south, lint it was destined to b" nn important factor in the future development oI the country. POSSIBILITIES FOR DAIRYING. Air Ransom also classed Southland as a good dairying country, and lie believed great tilings could be hoped from it if top-dressing were adopted. He had quoted the people the example of Denmark. Mutter was its staple product, and it was New Zealand's biggest competitor in the dairying industry, yet the whole country would go comfortably inside Southlard’s boundaries. During their tour land of a good type had been offered the Government. ml ibis would be inspected bv tie Land Purchase Board. IRRIGATION. Air Ransom was a iso interested in the inland country of Otago, for which irrigation has done so much. He had seen country which before irrigation came was carrying one sheep to five acres. To-day it was carrying five sheep to the acre, purely as the result o*f irrigation. Naturally there was much high country, and farmers were apt to be caught by the had weather, but- the growing of lucerne was now possible, and extensive use was beiiur made of this to tide the stock over the winter. This country to-day was producing as line fat lambs as lie bad seen anywhere, all because it had been given water. EXTENSION OF SCHEMES. It was his duty to make invost-iga tions and to see how the schemes could best be consolidated. It was the- Government’s intention t.o give water to all classes ol fanning in that area, and the experience now being gained from the present system

would provide valuable data 'lor extension works. THE TAUPO COUNTRY. \ ' Mr Forbes spoke of the Taupo country. He had heard .so many varying reports as to its potentialities that he intended to visit it shortly and view it for himself. If lie was satisfied that it was the class of country which would respond profitably to settlement the (iovernment was going to develop it.