IMPROVED FARM SETTLEMENTS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 352, 12 April 1911, Page 5

IMPROVED FARM SETTLEMENTS.

SPOON-FED OR LADLE-FED

SETTLERS

: At the meeting of the Auckland | Crown Lands Board this morning, Mr i R. S. Sircobme, a settler, of Rangii toto No. 2, waited on the Board with I regard to an application for an extenj sion of time for paying rent. He | represented the settlers in the block. J The regualtions under which these

; settlers hold their sections provide ! that from the taking of their lands ; they are exempt from paying rent for ; IS months. The advances allowed j are limited to £75 for farm improve- } ments, and £'so for the building of a ' house.

I The Commissioner, Mr Gold-Smith, ! asked Mr Sircombe his reason for the |! application, to which he replied that settlers were not given the opportunity to earn money. Mr Armstrong made inquiries as to I what extent Mr Sircombe bad imj proved his farm, to which the reply

j Was given 42. acres were in grass. The land had been laid down by means [ of discing and ploughing. Their farms were situated miles from Otorohanga, and were on a good road. Settlers proposed to adopt dairying next year. Mr Harris asked how they proposed to raise the cows for milking next year. What did the settlers propose as regards their financial arrangements. The position was that at present settlers had an exemption of IS months for the payment of rent. The question was to what extent would a remission benefit. The Commissioner: What is the country like. Mr Jordan? Mr Jordan: It is very good indeed, and the present indications are that it will hold grass well. At present there was every appearance that it was excellent crrass country. Mr Karris: As far as I can see these settlers have gone as far as they can. It would be a pity to see them go off their lands. The Commissioner agreed that it would be a pity to see them go oil their farms. The position was that under the present conditions of Improved Farm Settlements settlers were spoon-fed. They had absolutely lost all independence, and he had no sympathy for them. "What about the settlers of forty years ago? They would never dream of asking for sucn concessions." Mr Sircombe: I beg your pardon, sir, we do not look on the Gov ernroent as a rich uncle. The Board then expressed their willingness to recommend to the Minister of Lands an extension of six months for the payment of rent. The Commissioner (to Mr Sircombe) : Bear in mind that after that time expires you will have to bear your burden. Mr Chiles, another settler from the same block, who had made a complaint against the efficiency ot the Crown Lands Ranger, Mr A. B. Jordan, was asked by the Commissioner, what he would do when the settlers were done being spoon-fed. (Mr Harris: Ladle fed). Mr Chiles: We are not being spoonfed. W 7 e are working for what we earn. Mr Trounson: Settlers in the old days did not have the conditions of improved farm settlements. I consider them a failure. These people are put on the land, and the position seems to be that they cannot go any further. Mr Armstrong thought that those settlers had been dealt with very leniently. Settlers in the supposed poor North never had suca opportunities.