LAND SETTLEMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1929, Page 7

LAND SETTLEMENT.

PROBLEM OF UNDEVELOPED AREAS.

MR RANSOM OUTLINES SCHEME.

AUCKLAND, Fob. 2A

Further light on the Government’s land settlement and development proposals was thrown by the Hon Air •Ransom, Alinistcl- for Public Works, in answering a combined deputation representing the Rotorua Borough Council, Rotorua County Council, Rotorua Chamber of Commerce, and Rw-toma-Taupo Progress League

“Land settlement has always been a question of paramount importance to New Zealand.” said the Minister, “and without reflecting on the prevf oils Administration I say that sufficient prominence has not been given to the question in the last few years. Some will point to the increased production and say that last year was a record, but it lias to he remembered that more scientific methods have improved production, in some instances 10t) per cent., while the general improvement of herds has also had a similar effect. Because production has increased, it does not necessarily mean that more land has .been settled.” The Government was open to buy reasonably priced lands suited for closer cultivation and more intensive farming in blocks of from 50 to 75 acres, continued Mr Hansom. It also proposed to open Crown Lands in the less developed counties and subdivide them into 150 or 200 acre lots. There had been a lot of talk about Inirstinor up the biff estates by the graduated land tax, but that had never appealed to him, as in many eases it had been found that those estates could not profitably be fanned in less than 2000 acre lots. In some eases where it had been tried, it had cost the Government £12,000 to settle a man. That was not a practical scheme, esnecially when in districts like the Botorua-Timpo country ho could see the work being done at £I2OO, or even £IOOO a man. Such land as the latter should he developed prior to settlement, said the Minister. That had long been his pet scheme. Unemployed had been placed on road construction work, and while that was useful, it did not materially help to improve production, unless it was in the roading of new districts Mr Ransom said he.hoped to establish a settlement principal in this and other districts, whereby unemployed would bo engaged in breaking in certain blocks of land. Tbe Public Works Donnrtmont would select good men, either from the permanent staff or from relief workers. After, a few thousand acres bad boon brought to a state For production, a survey would be made and the men who bad assisted in the survey would he given first chance to have the land. While breaking in such areas the men would he housed in moveable huts, which would later be sold to them, say for £SO, in order to get a start on the land. He hoped soon to have Cabinet’s authority to put that scheme into effect as far as his Department was concerned. ‘T do not want to trespass on the Department of the Minister of Lands, Hut Tdo not think it would he a breach of privilege to tell you of the scheme he has in hand,” continued the Minister, in explainin'/ that about £.1,000.000 was available for land purchase. hut there was no fund for providing money for land development. M>- Forbes intended to ask Parliament for a land development fund from which prospective farmers would he assisted to break in land until it was V r. n ,iv for selling: and for providing a certain amount of finance until the men had the farm paying its way. A man who had been four or five jeais on the Work of breaking in should have saved a few hundred pounds bv the time he was ready to cultivate the land. When he had settled and made certain improvements ho would be assisted on the homestead system. Those going on to cultivated land in districts long settled would naturally not need so much financial assistance. The land development scheme would he removed from the control of the ordinary land Boards and a special Board for the whole Dominion would have the oversight of that particular work. Mr Hansom saicl he did not tl.ink any material change would he made by the Government to the land laws and the system of tenure.