FEILDING AND CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3973, 20 July 1929, Page 4

FEILDING AND CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

•Mr. Desmond planed before tlie Feilding Chamber of Commerce at its last meeting 'the advantages of securing closer settlement in the Feilding district. 'The present Government had declared as part of its policy closer land Settlement, and the speaker suggested the formation of a league or association. The methods -which niight be adopted by the proposed lleague were outlined, and Mir. Desmond urged that a public meeting should ;be called for the purpose of forming the league. There wefre properties in the Feilding district which were ideal for closer settlement, and on the other hand th'ere were many men anxious to get the opportunity of securing long-term leases of small farming properties. Mr. Desmond was not suggesting anything in the way of confiscation, but proposed moving along proper constitutional lines. The President said the Government had inspected sevetral properties in this district, but the trouble was the price. Mr. Fitzpatridk congratulated Mr. Desmond on bringing the matter to the iChamibea*. If there were areas suitable for closer settlement, probably the Chamber itself could draw public attention to them. Mr. Taylor said Feilding was to be congratulated on the situation in which it was placed. There are properties round the district in proximity to the town, suitable for cutting lip, and there was no doubt in a few ye airs these would be subdivided and it would ibe all for the good of.the town. Regarding Mr. Desmond’s proposal, Mr. Taylor thought something might be done in the way of finding out properties suitable for closer settlement, but when it came to fixing the price, the outside organisation might well then keep out of it, for it .would be dangerous ;to interfere. The Government .must fix the price, and it was neciessalry that the smaller settler should be plalced on the land at a price at which lie could make a good living.

Mr. Desmond mentioned that- a property had been offered to the Government in the district and the difference from that offered and the price asked was only a few pounds. He thought in a case like that some organisation might be useful in bringing about a purchase. The view of the Committee seemed to be that any organisation formed should not comie .into the negotiations when the price was being considered.