LAND DEVELOPMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 215, 11 August 1937, Page 2

LAND DEVELOPMENT

GOVERNMENT SCHEME. AFFORESTATION ALSO. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON. Aug. 10. Witli a view to augmenting the endeavours now being made to provide for the absorption»of surplus labour, Cabinet decided at a meeting to-day to make a commencement with the i development of a number of reverted j Crown securities aggregating 2(5,000 acres in area. “On this class of work alone,” said the Prime Minister, “we will he able within the next few weeks to employ 400 additional men and the number will he increased as the scheme expands. T’be number of men at present employed in different branches of land development is as follows: Farm land development ... 1000 State forestry ... : 1100 Native land development ... 5000 Total 7100 “It may be averred by some critics that this decision to extend State land development work will aggravate the alleged shortage of farm labour. This aspect lias not been overlooked and arrangements will be made " whereby men from State Forest plantations and in a lesser degree from land development blocks will ho made available lor seasonal farm work. “The scheme will require a good deal of organisation, and co-operation between the State and local branches of the Farmers’ Union will bo necessary to make it a success. The object of the plan is largelv to reduce State operations during the harvest and other periods when the maximum amount of seasonal work is required and to allow the men to return to State employment when their services are not required by farmers. The men are thus assured of continuous employment. The system will apply in all districts where State operations are in" progress. “Another branch of land utilisation in which it is expected a large number of additional men will be required is afforestation. Recently the Commissioner of State Forests announced the Government’s decision to set aside for this purpose an additional 22,000 acres in the Bay of Plenty district and the work of planting has already commenced. By utilising surplus stocks from the nurseries of the State Forest service in this branch of development,’ - said the Prime Minister, “a long-range plan is necessary and the Commissioner of State Forests (Hon. F. Langstone) is at present working on data with a view to submitting to the Government details of the department’s proposals over a period of five years. It will provide emplovment for a large number of men and should decrease to a considerable extent the number now in receipt of sustenance. “Labour will be required not only for planting but also for the preparation of land, the establishment of firebreaks and the erection of buildings, hutments for the men and dwellings lor the permanent staff. To make for the greater comfort of the employees it has been decided to replace the tents by hutments which will be erected to plans prepared by the Public Works Department. “The whole objective of extending our land utilisation projects,” concluded Mr Savage, “is not only to provide additional avenues for absorbing surplus labour but also to create assets which will be of value to the nation.