The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incoporated the West Coast Times SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1932. LAND SETTLEMENT IN WESTLAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incoporated the West Coast Times SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1932. LAND SETTLEMENT IN WESTLAND.

Whenever parcels of land in West--1 land are thrown open for selection—j particularly adjacent to centres of j settlement —there is always a good demand. Only a few can he successful, and it is obvious many are disappointed and remain landless. it is the custom among the authorities rather, to condemn the Wfest Coast land, but gradually evidence is accumulating which should discount that belief in high quarters. There ts no doubt about the, productivity of the land under at all favourable eon* ditioug. The pastures produce excellent stock—both cattle and sheep, while the lambs are in good demand every season. The dairy produce of the several settlements is all of a high quality, and the returns to the farmer are on a par, relatively, with those in other places. Just at present when a drought is burning up the country on the East Coast, and fanners are suffering a) great loss, here on the West Q’oast, the whole countryside is bright and green with feed in plenty. This advantage is not seasonal, it is a condition of every year, so that though land values here are only fractional of the favoured places in New Zealand, in comparison the Westland settler is much hotter placed with the cheaper land values. One of the great burdens of the farmers as a class in New Zealand, is the high priced land on which interest has to be paid. It is not so much the rate of interest which is the real burden, but the capital cost on which the interest has to he paid. It is a fact that West Coast settlers as a whole are more favourably placed as regards interest payments, because land values are at a lower range. It is a fact that despite the slump and the complaint generally by the farmer class, there remains among the landless an unsatisfied land hunger. Now when the country is seeking for avenues to reduce unemployment and to get people out of the cities and into the country and become producers, the time is ripe to encourage more settlement in Westland. There must be areas which could he brought into profit if the State sought to settle the people on the land on easy terms. The land is here, and only requires utilising. It is for the authorities to take up this matter in no half-heart-ed manner and encourage settlement, (liven the opportunity, land will be taken up. and more of the Frown estate will be 'brought into profit. That is distinctly a need ol the times, and the fact that the land and people are here, the marvel is that the maehinerv is so long in being provided to bring the lend to the people, and the poopm to the land. It would appear that, a serious view is not taken ol tlic> possibilities of the district, yet tn

eve- v instance wliere new areas are thrown onen there is a rush lor the boldines, and settlers have I cootne e«fnhlisbcd. While .the dean a ltd con;inties it should he tl; ■ aim lo satisl’v so healthy a condition o l ' affairs. Tii.is is a mailer in which I'itrmers Fniotis might work with the atilhoi-

ilit>s in p 'posine areas lor occupation, and null simli tecommctidalions |he Ooveruiiieiu ‘fttinol loiuj/'r rid use (o Lake itclion in llm matter.