LAND SETTLEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1929, Page 3

LAND SETTLEMENT

’ AN AUCKLAND SCHEME. ASSISTANCE FOR NEW SETTLE RiS. AUCKLAND, May 14. 1 Under the auspices of tlie New Zealand Land Settlement League a laud settlement conference was held this after noon. Mr W. J. Holdsworlm. chairman of the executive presided, and there were members of Parliament present from all parts of Auckland province. . It was stated that the league wished to emphasise the necessity for cooperation between all political groups, so that an understanding could ho arrived at and an endeavour made to frame a. national land settlement policy which should ho given a fair trial for a period, so that the subject might be removed from the arena of party politics. Coincident with this the league considered that it was essential that a Land Settlement and Migration Board should be- set up, with local advisory committees. Finance should he provided in co-operation with the 'lmperial Government for Empire settlement, and arrangements as to details should be come to between the respective countries. The following forms of settlement wore considered feasible and would he suggested to the Settlement and Migration Board.

(a) Settlement camps.—Whore large areas are improved hv men who subsequently have an opportunity of obtaining individualised farms at tlie cost of production. Men used to hard work, even without farm experience, cotild he Used for this. (b) Group Settlement. —Somethi nr on West Australian lines, where settlers arc taken on to their respective holdings, given a house, and work under skilled supervision until the holdings are self-supporting. Preferably for married men with farm experience.

(c) Zone Settlement-.-—Where isolated farms within a given radius are passed over to men with tlie necessary experience to be improved under tbe close supervision essential to have farm 'experience.

fdl Cadet groan settlement, which is designed on the lines of (a) to meet the requirements of hoys who have had some little farm experience. Tt i« considered that the inducement of early proprietorship would start, a flow of hoys from school to farm life. Tt was stated that these suggestions pepsemo provision by the State of the necessary land and progressive finance to enable settlers to make a start hot every effort should be made to enro"ra<re self-reliance, and to that end hare necessities only to he provided, and all finance sh'mTd he in relation to progressive improvements effected.