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Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1930, Page 4

Tim need For more settlement in this listrict is apparent to all who tour Westland. It has been remarked frepiently by those acquainted with I'armng pursuits who come into the district or the first time, that the condition of ;o many holdings suggest that the irons are far too large for the ominous. In other wonls the occupied and is not producing all that it should, [’his of course is apart from the vast

areas of Crown lands which are not used to any groat extent. Even in the well settled dairying districts, where there are good service roads and excellent access to centres and to factories many areas are not producing what they should, nor is the locality peopled as it should he. In these times when there is the complaint about unemployment on one hand, and an earth hunger on the other, it should he essential that available areas should he turned to the best account. In parts of the North island the Government is spending large sums iu the endeavour to bring doubtful country into profit. Settlement lands are being purchased up and down the Dominion but all too often these lands are situated in remote places and after purchase expensive reading and bridging have to be undertaken. Some areas of this character are being purchased on the Coast. It means that the would-be settlers will have to go well back, and for a time must be isolated by difficult river fords and lack of even passable roads. The settlers in such eases often starting with a lack of funds, will be in a lifelong struggle. In Westland it should be possible to secure areas for closer settlement adjacent to good roads and even factories, where the settler can start in producing as soon as he stocks his holding. This is the class of settlement which will give the country the fillip it needs. The land may be a little more costly in itself, but there will be no loading for roads, and no drawbacks for the lack of bridges, while the fact that the earning power of the farm will be immediate will be a direct encouragement to the settler to take up the proposition. There are many'-suitable areas up and down the district which could be selected for closer settlement, and as the community value of more and more settlement is so obvious, this is a community question which should be taken up by the settlers themselves in the endeavour to draw the attention of the authorities to a position which will be of such help to Westland, and indirectly to the Dominion as a whole.