SMAL FARMS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1933, Page 6

SMAL FARMS

PROGRESS OF SCHEME. MINISTER DISAPPOINTED WELLINGTON,, Sep. 18. “Tlnf li'liinber of ’men. actually placed on farms is certainly not large but the number in prospect is fairly satisfactory,’.'' said the Minister in charge of the Small Farms Unemployment AeV* scheme, lion. E, A. Hansom, when discussing the progress of-the scheme to-dav.

“The Small Farms Hoard has been functioning for only ..four months,” said -Mr. Hansom, “and has had to devote a good deal of time to initiating and. completing a workable organisation within tlie, provisions of the Act passed last .session. The result of the boa.rdls operations to date may be ■briefly -stated as follows: —Placed on individual holdings, 140 men; established as share-milkers, 50 men; employed on land development, 300 men. “Tlie work of land development represents the most important phase, of the board’s work to date. It has in hand improvement of arearg -which aggregate. 16,000 acres,, and which when' subdivided will provide .for the establishment of . 154 families. In addition, it has in prospect for development acres approximating 14,000 acres, which should provide for the ultimace . settlement of .over 250 families. The immediate, value of this side of the hoard's work is the fact that during this summer no fewer than 1000 men will be employed in reproductive work.-

MANY AREAS iN HAND

“This method adopted is to establish r,snips of men recruited through' the nearest employment \ bureau, clean up areas as rapidly as possible, y iid when they are ready for settlement tod select future- holders from those who have proved their ability -during the development operations. Some of the . more important of the areas which have been or are about to be put in hand are 1,600 acres at Tutanioe, north of Dargaville; '2030 • acres, near Te Kuiti, 1000 acres at Reporoa, near Rotorua, given for the purpose by Mr E. Earle : Vaile j 2100 ncies at- Murupara, near Galatea, Rotorua district, 1400 acres at Motutangi, North Auckland, 1101) acres at -Hokianga, 1000 acres near llaetihi, 803 acres at 'lvaitaia, and 500 acres near Kaitaia.

“Practically t)ie whole of these blocks comprise Crown land, and as -a considerable portion of the developP meiit expenditure will be ft)mid by the Unemployment Hoard the ultimate selectors will commence their farming operations on a basis which will give every prospect .of success. Consequently every endeavour-is being made to extend this class of settlement. ANOTHER IMPORTANT BRANCH

“Another important branch of the beard’s work- which lias so far . received: no publicity is tiiat of undertaking the cleaning up of properties in localities where holdings are too -large and have deteriorated, and arranging with the settlers- concerned for the surrender of portions of their holdings iii return for the development work carried out. This principle is already in operation in the Tutanioc district, and arrangements are well in hand to put it Cntio effect in the Mairca district' near Te Kuiti. This method of settlement will also be extended iii other suitable localities. “With those wlio have been looking to the small farm plan to provide for the early settlement of a large number of our unemployed men, h um naturally disappointed at the .small number so far actually placed on individual holdings,” continued the' Minister. “This has been due to the fact that the board' found it difficult to secure any appreciable area of land suitable for immediate settlement. As can be readily imagined, a large number of properties lias been offered to the Government, but unfortunately an unduly large proportion of these has proved to lie unsuitable, for the purpose of small farm settlement, or the price asked' by the owner has been too high to permit of successful settlement. “The hoard has reached a stage when most of the. unsuitable properties have been eliminated. More reasonable offers are now being received and during the past month the board lias approved of the acquisition of 4580 acres of private land, which' will provide for 81 holding’s. Men have already been selected I from the large number of applications : awaiting consideration: The varjioiis local committees set up under the Act are working on sound lines, and are recommending only such pfopertTes as will permit of the esta'blishmerft of men at a reasonable maximum cost.

ACQUISITION OF LAND “The experience of, the hoard indicates that there is' ail inclinati on on the part of owners to h'old'their propp'rties for a rise in. rallies and if it is found that, the present system of voluntary acquisition fails to<secure an adequate area, the question of invoking the compulsory'clauses'of' the Act will have to he given .serious-- consideration. “With a view to assisting the hoard to secure suitable holdings applicants have been advised to endeavour to obtain from an owner an option to lease with 'the right to purchase ,a portion of the holding and to refer each option to the commissioner of Crown lands' for the district concerned. A number have already .secured, .their holdings by this method.” The Minister stated lie had , every confidence that, the .work of the board would not- only assist in solving the .unemployment problem, but would also accelerate the policy of close gettle-

!meivi> on sound lines, which all would agree was a desirable objective. The difficulty was that the absorption of unemployed by a system of land- settlement was necessarily a-slow method on account of protracted . negotiations with owners, arrangements with" mortgagees; and .other requirements of a legal nature, which were inseparable from the acquisition'of land. Nevertheless,’ the system of' placing 'unemployed families on “full time” farm's was- probably the most effective method of permanently transferring men from the ranks of the unemployed, and this was the objective of the board. “The Government' scheme is a national one,’ 1 concluded the Minister-, “and I appeal to all public-spirited land-owners to -do what ■ they can to assist the board in its work.