SMALL HOLDINGS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8360, 21 February 1913, Page 10

SMALL HOLDINGS

FOR FARM LABOURERS SCHEME FORMULATED BY FARMERS’ UNION. Press Association. AUCKLAND, February 20. The Government’s promise to prorido farm labourers with small holdings, thus inducing more labour to go into the country districts and at the lame time to give the labourer a chsreco to become an independent settler, bids lair to result in definite action being taken very shortly. The first step towards the adoption of t scheme was taken in Auckland today, when Mr J. Lomas, becretapr o f the Labour Department, and Mr J. D. Ritchie Lands Purchase Commissioner, conferred with the executive of the provincial branch of the Now Zealand Farmers’ Union. The scheme was first promoted by the Farmers’ Union, and definite propels for the establishment of small holdings, were drawn up a short time ago by th union’s executive and submitted to the Prime Minister by a deputation roeently. These proposals have been pat into ronciso form, and were discussed by the conference. The objects of the scheme, which were fully explained and discussed, are as follow: (1) To provide homee m the country for workers who will not bo solely dependent on the work obtainable in a district: (2) to provide casual labour for districts where it is required ; (3) to offer inducement to married men capable of general farm work to remain in the district by the knowledge that the life is. better m every way, their expenses hghter, that they will have an opportunity of rearing families, and that their interests are identical with their employers ; (4) the men, by being thrifty and conforming to certain conditions, can purchase the freehold of'the land under the easiest conditions, thus providing at least a living in itself, if farmed rightly; (o) the men would, by being producers themselves, advance an industry m the success of which New Zealand is practically dependent. The Farmers’ Union has gone carefully into the ways and means of the working of such a, scheme, making it a practical asset to the farming community in the Dominion. The suggestions as to how it is to be accomplished are summarised . as follow : (1) Ihe Government to. provide land in districts requiring labour and to erect suitable cottages thereon, the area for each home to be not less than five acres or first-class land; but should the quality of the land decrease, then there should be an increase of area accordingly, and in no case more than thirty acres or inferior land: (2) the tenure under which the Government should offer these sect ions would be, occupation with right of purchase; (3) applicants should hare a knowledge of farming, and be bound to conditions agreeable to the Government for th© carrying out successfully of the scheme, thus reaching the aims for which it was intended. The means of determining where these small holdings are to bo established would be the requests from districts which would, avail themselves of the advantages of such a scheme, and applications from responsible settlers guaranteeing the interest would then decide the number of sections to be allotted, which should on no account exceed the requirements of th© district. Upon the completion of the survey and erection of cottages ’ thereon the Government would hand over control of the property to a recognised committee of guarantors, the* Government to retain the right to resume the control of the property at any time upon relieving tlie guarantors of all responsibility. Beth Mr Lomas and Mr Ritchie expressed their hearty approval of the scheme, and the conference discussed at length the details of putting it into working order. In order to insure the Government against financial loss the Farmers’ Union executive suggested that settlers who benefited by the extra labour in their district would be willing to pay the interest on the money expended by th© Government in acquiring the necessary laud. . As the result of the conference, Mr Lomas and Mr Ritchie asked the executive of the Farmers’ Union to write to the various farming districts to inquire: (1) What labour was wanted; (3) the average price of the land; (3) the general conditions for farming in each district; (4) if any of the fanners in each district would provide land for the purposes of the scheme, and, if so, at what cost. As soon as this information has been gathered, Mr Lomas stated that the Government would send out qualified men to visit each district and report upon the proposals to Mr Ritchie and himself, who, when they have satisfactory openings of putting them into force, would recommend the Government to generally adopt the scheme.