Levin State Farm.

Manawatu Herald, 27 September 1894, Page 3

Levin State Farm.

In, It is the intention of the Government, some day, to make the Farm f purely co operative. Until that time comes it ig well to ask what are their intentions ? The land needs to be worked as any ordinary settler v would work it, if a proper attempt is to be made to make it pay, and a well defined scheme should be thought out before much labour is chucked _ away. We. have been led to suggest this by the sight of the nursery of .2250 young fruit trees now at the Settlement. It is useless to plant these trees out into a fallen bush, as when logged up the fires H will burn the trees, and then the stumps will for years be in the way. It is 'rumoured that the Manager purposes to stump the land. The idea of stumping land immediately after a fire may be suggestive of " go-aheadisin," but it is also suggestive of much unnecessary expense, and we hope will not be thought of. Why the natural uses of grassed land should not be good enough for the labourers. of the State Farm we cannot imagine, as there could be plenty of useful work found for both young and old. If the site, which is being fallen, is to be the site of the Homestead, which it should be, any amount of work is ready, first in getting cottages up, gardens fenced, then the larger paddocks, and then the milking sheds. The Farm is extremely fortunate in having a Creamery close to hand and milking affords better profit for the employment of " elderly " and youthful hands than, anything else about the land. The fruit trees might be sold reasonably to the labourers for their cottage gardens, guarding however that only a very few are allowed to each, or, in a few years their half acre of land would be spoilt for garden purposes. In the intervals between milking, the fallen bush will find plenty of employment, in logging up, splitting posts and stabs, firewood for the railway, &c. This may be exactly what the Government intend to d"o; but. if so, they do not seem to know it, and we hava only called attention to the Farm so that a definite scheme may be settled in good time. Wo also hope that some kind of rules will be drawn up as to who may apply for such a pleasant position as a labourer on the Farm, the conditions of his tenancy, and the number of " his sisters, his cousins, and his aunts " and the ages of his children that he is allowed to gather round him in this terrestial Paradise, how long they may reside -with him, whether it is necessary they should ever leave, or may they by inheritance bg^ome the lucky co-partners with their fathers? There are many families now .upon the Farm, a school has been built for the children, therefore both parents and taxpayers are much interested in having these queries answered, as the Farm may otherwise, soon resemble a State Nursery instead of a place of rest for " elderly men." Our best wishes Are for the success of the Farm.