The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, FEBRURY 16, 1929. BACK TO THE LAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, FEBRURY 16, 1929. BACK TO THE LAND.

Hon Alinisthhs in tlie now Government are reiterating their belief in the eflicaey of the land settlement schemes they have in mind, it is regarded iy them as the best cure for unemployment, and vve may expect they will lie been to put the policy into force.’ The .Minister of Lands (Air Forbes) is now touring the Dominion with the object of seeing for himself wlmt are the possibilities of further lain] settlement. Jt appears there is no death of properties under oiler, and the Land Purchase B. •d are looking into these propositions. No doubt the Minister lias definite ideas regarding location of areas as a means to ensure good facilities for marketing, and to avoid costly reading. Mr Forbes has been impressed with .settlement prospects in Southland where he considers then l are great possibilities. The land of Southland is not unlike that of Westland, and climatic conditions are also akin—plenty of rainfall and a read.v response to topdressing. There are same large holdings in Southland, and closer settlement schemes should lie possible where markets are at hand. Air Forbes does not intend to create a boom in land values, which of course is verv wise. New Zealand has learned a costly lesson from the boom which resulted in 'the rush for land when the ex-soldiers were offered facilities for settlement. Further, Afr Forbes prop *ses to pnv some attention to the utilisation of {"town lands. Certainly more use might he made of many areas, and if this can he done economical! v. the conntrv will he well served indeed. There should be no doubt about the interest and

enthusiasm of Mr Forbes in regard to land settlement. We believe he lias a lively concern for the further success the country should achieve in settling people on the land. Passing up and down Mew Zealand, and seeing the great tracts of land, it is too much to believe that the eountiy has reached its limit in settlement. Certainly the use of even the occupied land is far from being at its limit. It is a general complaint that areas on the whole are far too large, and holders in numerous instances do not make the list 1 they should of their land. This, oi course, is attributable in the main to lack of funds, and the Government can and is meeting this difficulty, where the settlers seek help or relief. There are facilities under the law already for helping the settlors financially to improve their properties, and thereby- increase tile production. While air .Massey used to call for more and more settlement, it is apparent that wlmt is needed is more ami more production. ’llic present land held by the settlers could and should produce far more than it does. The production irom a small well-kept area can i>o made considera le under proper conunions, and e.osor settlement, which the Minister lias so much in mind, will help towards that send. Local knowledge supplies instances of what can be done in restricted areas where the ground is kept clean and in full jwolil. Local knowledge again can supply instances where larger holdings arc allowed to be overgrown with no.\ious weeds tor the lack of proper attention. The, difference is the gunge between successful and unsuccessful settlement. On the whole it is clear that Mr Forbes is being encouraged in his views as to the future of land settlement bv what, he sees as he goes about the country. Eelorc he finishes his tour, we hope Westland will he favoured with a visit, and our land for settlement re,sources spied on. As we remarked above, Westland and Southland land lias a good deal in common, and just as the hitter impressed the Minister, so we fool sure lie would he pleasantly surprised with what lie saw of Westland if lie extends liis tour this far.