CLOSER SETTLEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1930, Page 7

CLOSER SETTLEMENT

AN ENGLISH AUTHORITY’S' ADVICE. WELLINGTON, March 27. A degree of intensive land cultivation well in excess of what New Zealanders regard as possible was desenoetl to the New Zealand Club by Sir Richard 'Winfrey, former Under-Sec-retary of Agriculture in the British Government, who was the club’s guest todav. He quoted the example to stress the point that land in the Dominion is capable of greatly increased production. ■Jt i s not for me to give final Conclusions about a country visit,” he said, “but I think your land will carry two or three million more population than it does to-day. 1 believe I am right in saying you have fewer people on the land to-day than you had five years ago, and this is really a vital problem. The speaker then indicated what had been done in England in connection With closer settlement, in which he is r.n.vely concerned. 'Under the Soldiers Farm Colonies Act 1000 acres ot land near the Wash, Lincoln, were purchased from three farmers and c”t into ten acre lots, which enabled a hundred ex-service men to be settled, some being partially incapacitated. He t-js.it-ed this settlement last year and certainly 95 per cent of the men had f•• de good on ten acres of land, which fie must admit was some of the best land in England. They paid 50s an acre rent for the land, £lO for their house and £5 for buildings, making a tctal of £lO per annum. They were not (untent to grow field crops, but raised small fruits, asparagus and bulbs, and he knew of a man who went there, net l.j ving £l5O of capital, who had s.v.ed ten times that sum in ten vear3.

•'That shows what can he done on sffinll areas,” concluded Sir Richard “and you need not he surprised that T am a most enthustastie supporter of the division of land amongst a greater number of people.” (Applame.)