CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5390, 20 February 1929, Page 2

CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

MINISTERS INTENTIONS STATED.

Speaking at Dannevir.ke last Thursday in reply to a deputation urging Government action in promoting closer settlement near Dannevirke the Minister of Lamia (Hon. G, W. Forbejs) said that there had been built up a superstructure that had get out of proportion to the base. If New Zealand were to progress there must be t ' more settlement on the land, and there was no other solution to unemployment than increasing the number; of people on the land and increasing, production. “I believe,” the Minister added, “that one of the greatest faults in New Zealand to-day is that the people have too much land, not too little, and I. believe our troubles and weaknesses are due to that. We have come to see that where we have areas of land that, c.an be cut np into smaller sized farms of reasonable s.ize, better results are being obtained. As a practical farmer, I can see many farms that are not pulling their keight I am certain that the country can carry two to three times as, many people on it;; farm lands if properly used. “There is no doubt that in regard tn closer settlement we 'have got to tackle the pr oblejm and deal with it as expeditiously as we can. At the present time the Government is looking, for good land. Because we are out for clos.er settlement we are not going to buy big sheep landls and cu i ; them up into smaller sheep farms. Dairying will, give the b®st results. AVhat I am aiming at in regard to settlement is to increase the number of men on the land, and along with that to increase production. You can do that by cutting up land that has been carrying sheep and putting, dairy farms on it. If you whr,e to put sheep farms on it you would not get' the same result. That is the class of latd we are out to settle, and l any property you may know of where the owner is willing to submit it. to the Government should be put before the Land Purchase Board. I have t'o](i them that it.is the desire of the Government to go oil with settlement as expeditiously as we can.”

The Government did not want to apply harsh measures in getting land. If a man wanted to hang on to a big area, then the time had come; for the Government to tac,kle the matter He believed that it was better in such eases for the Government to give, under conditions, of amicable bargain-; ing, a little, more than the market, value of the land than have to take it under the compulsory clause of the Act. The Government would endeavour to do its best along'the lines of friendly co-operation, but if the necessity arose it. would have; to take other means.