N.Z. UNEMPLOYED

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1931, Page 5

N.Z. UNEMPLOYED

ABSORBING THE UNEMPLOYED

WORK ON ABANDONED FARMS

EMPLOYMENT BOARDS LATEST PLAN.

WKi-mINGTON, April 30

The Hon. the Minister of Labour (who is Chairman of the Unemployment Board) made the following official statement last evening concerning the new farm development scheme inaugurated by the Board. “From its inception it has been the settled policy and desire of the Unemployment Board,” said the .Minister “to direct and divert the unemployed into productive avenues, whereby the results of their labour might be reflected in the increased production and exports of the Dominion. So far, however, the sheer magnitude of the relief to be provided has engaged the whole of the Board’s energies and almost completely absorbed it s finance.

Gradually, however, No. 4, which provides for productive work on farms, is being developed, over 2.500 additional labour having been placed on farms to date, and to-day this scheme represents a constructive phase of the Unemployment Board’s efforts. Hitherto the scheme ha 3 operated in two different phases as follows—4A provides additional workers on farms under a system of wage subsidy. 4B provides for development work on farms on a contract basis, a subsidy being granted of 33] per cent, of the labour cost of each contract,

A third section 4 (c) Ims now been inaugurated whereby assistance is being provided for the rehabilitation and settlement of abandoned farms. This new section, it is hoped, will result in bringing back to full production a number of farms that have been abandoned, ' because of the drop in the prices of primary and in the ultimate settlement of an unemployed man and Ids family on each farm.

This phage of the scheme will be operated by the Unemployment Board in collaboration with the Lands Department, whose field inspectors will t have general supervision oner the development work on the farms.

It has the commendation of Minister of Lands and the approval of the Minister of Finance.

DETAILS OF THE PLAN

There are about 400 abandoned faring in the Dominion but a number of them are not- regarded as offering any prospect of successful workiivy and so a selection of the L-st will be made for testing the practicability of tlie scheme. The future occupiers of the iartns will he clioseti' by District L a nd Hoards from unemployed farmer*, or from suitable persons with fanning experience. Reports are to bo supplied by Dopnrtmoulnl experts as to tht) quantity of material iuntied to effott repairs to buildings for fencing ate., and as to the number of men required to put a farm into working Order. When the selected occupier of a farm takes possession the Lands Department will arrange with the nearest Till hour Bureau to send to the farm ,a ga’ng of single unemployed who will work under the supervision of the future occupier. The workers will be paid £1 per wyck by the Unemployment Board and will be allowed Ids per week foil board. Th e farms are to be occupied rent free from two to five years, the period to he decided by the District Land Board. So that there shall Ire no handicap on occupiers in the initial stages, the value o! the farms is to be written down to the present day value. The occupiers of these farms may also obtain from the Lands Development Board advances for the erection of buildings, or for the clearing, draining, fencing, cultivation, grassing or general improvement of the farms, including the purchasing of fencing mattoria, grass seed, lime, manures, implements etc. to an amount not exceeding 90 per cent, of the estimated value of the completed improvements.

Discharged soldier occupiers may obtain advances under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915 for making improvements to their farms and also for tile purchase of stock and chattels. The reclamation of these abandoned holdings will have a far reaching effect. They have for long perods had a most depressing effect fro a physicologieal aspect on the occupants of farms in their vicinity, and they have proved a prolific breeding ground for noxious weeds, to the detriment of adjoining holdings. If the Unemployment Board’s plans result in making grass grow wliere now only weeds flourish, the farms will becoe an economic asset, but the real test of the value of the scheme will he the number of men it will take from the ranks of the non-productive unemployed and place in a position to add considerably to the volume of our primary products, and the area of land at present non-productive that will he brought into profitable production. Abandoned farms contributed nothing to the rates, but when tney are occupied and developed they will pay their full quota of local body rates and thus share the cost ol road maintenance now born entirely by neighbouring farmers. , “Assuming that the selection of the occupiers of the farms are very carefully made and that the writing down of value is done with clue regard to present day prices, there does not appear to be any serious obstacle to tnc success of the scheme.

HOW TO GET ON THE FARMS'. ‘The rules governing the operations of the scheme will be available in a few days and copies will be forwarded to all local Unemployment Committees. Applications from prospective lessees of the farms are. to be made to the Commissioners of Crown Lands in the various districts.” “T sincerely trust,” said the Minister in conclusion, “that this new development plan will be endorsed by the public, as an. available contribution to tbi> efforts to check 'unemployment. So far the Unemployment Board lias not received from farmers as much encouragement as was to be l expected in connection with its farm sobenice, and it is no fault of the Board that farmers have not taken a greater advantage of them, for under 4A they were offered completely free labour. The attraction of people into the country districts in order to develop the land is one of the most powerful agents in the struggle against unemployment. and the Board hoped that it will have the. full co-operation of farmers generally in the latest attempt to grapple with the problem.”