Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1929 "BACK TO THE LAND"

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 6 August 1929, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1929 "BACK TO THE LAND"

THE determination of the Government to vigorously foster land settlement in any and every way feasible will meet with strong support. As Sir Joseph Ward stated in his Budget, the prosperity of the whole country is bound up in (lie products of the land. He unhesitatingly affirms that the cause of the country's present difficulties is the neglect 'to' foster land settlement and advocates as a cure the adoption of the old slogan "Back to the land." There- is no doubt that if the Government earnestly applies itself to this policy—one that is more capable of practical application than some of its election pledges—a great advance will have been made in the solu(icm of the unemployment problem. The Prime Minister outlined the Government's main scheme with a definiteness that is of sufficient importance and interest to warrant further comment in support. The State owns some millions of ncrcs or waste lands, but a great deal of it, for various reasons, is unsuitable for immediate settlement. It is some of

' these waste lands 'that the Government | proposes to bring into cultivation under two .systems which show distinct promise. Under one, instead of using the funds available—up to five millions is to l)p. borrowed—to purchase developed lands, Crown land will bo offered for selection after it has been brought into I mich a state that settlers would be able to make a living on it, the cost of pre-

paration being capitalised and added to! the valuation of the land. The second scheme will provide an opportunity (o men imbued with the pioneer spirit and who are prepared to take up waste Crown land and da the developmental work themselves. Theso men must necessarily be energetic and capable. They will be selected and will be granted advances on specially liberal terms bj . the State. To enable this to be done (here will ho instituted a special Land Development Branch of the State Advances Office, the funds of which will bo used for the purpose indicated.

The scheme promulgated is attractive nnd its operation will be watched with keen and sympathetic interest. Administration will play a very big part in its success or otherwise, and the liberal assistance proposed will require sagacious handling. Public monies could not be devoted to a better purpose, if properly applied, than in bringing the Crown's idle lands into cultivation. In addition to developing and settling backward or at present inaccessible land, the Government intends to proceed resolutely with the cutting up of large estates suitable for closer settlement. It is taking steps to ensure that no more is paid for these estates than their true economic value. Compulsion will bo resorted to where necessary, and the law in this respect is to be amended. The country has witnessed too many examples of over-capitalised land being acquired and sold to. men who could not make a living on it once the. prices of primary produce began to recede. The experience of many soldier-settlers is the outstanding instance of this lamentable method of settling the land. It was bad business for the men and the State, alike and was of 100 recent occurrence for the lesson it taught to bo forgotten. No doubt the Government will bear it in mind and .the country will profit accordingly. We look to this branch of the Government's policy as the one likely to do most in conquering unemployment. Relief works are temporary expedients of an undesirable nature, though unfortunately necessary at present. It will not be possible to dispense with them yet. The Government's land settlenent policy cannot be put into wide operation immediately. As Sir Joseph has said "The full effects will bo seen in a few years' lime when the increase in production and in the general prosperity of the whole Dominion will have caused unemployment and other present difficulties to disappear." Criticism of other aspects of the Financial Statement in its relation to and contrast with extravagant election pledges does not preclude appreciation of the merit of the Government's "back to the land" proposals and their great possibilities.