OPENING UP NEW LANDS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 223, 9 February 1928, Page 5

OPENING UP NEW LANDS.

GOVERNMENT’S POLICY DISCUSSED.

POLICIES OF OTHER COUNTRIES.

Training of Youth and Research Work Essential

The problems attaching to the countryside are not peculiar to New Zealand. For generations it has been si leading question in the Old Country, while America and other coun■f" tries have also been affilicted by the same troubles. Continental States such as Germany and France have solved the problem to the greatest degree, and in ■ both these countries agricultural pursuits are looked upon a? of paramount importance and laws are framed accordingly. In both, the agricultural sense is highly dejJL veloped, and money is not stinted ” when it comes to research work or seeing that farmers are provided with adequate supplies of cheap manures arid other necessities. In Britain the Government has recentlyawakened to the absolute need for tackling the question in a bold manner. Commissioners have been set up, and large amounts of cash, together with protective regulations, have been made available in an effort to foster the oldest of all industries. Owing to difficulties peculiar to Britain, the task there is a far greater one than it is in New Zealand, but there are distinct signs . that the bold, progressive and generA ous policy being followed is meeting with success. TUrri of Tide in England! Are towns beginning to lose their attractiveness for country people? This question is raised by the Report of the Development Commissioners: in England. The Commissioners maintain that in the case of a large number of country villages the argument that the attraction of the towns is irresistible no longer holds good, and that there is a strong movement in the other direction which tends back to the land. This has been caused by the provision of radio sets, concerts, dramatic performances, lectures and dances in villages, which with their attractive lay-out have charms of their own in summer-time with which the towns cannot compete. The report tells its own story, and it means that the reaction of the war, which demanded gaiety at all costs, has run its course to some extent, and that the efforts of those who have been waging a back-to-the-lhnd crusade have been meeting with success. No country can be supremely healthy either in an economic or physical sense which neglects its coun-try-side. A virile yeoman stock pursuing agricultural callings with selfcontained townships to provide their i wants dotted over the settled areas, provides a backbone for any country and ensures prosperity in its widest sense. It is the ideal aimed at by far-seeing statesmen and leading economists, and perhaps reaches its highest perfection in France, where the immense benefits accruing from such a wise distribution of population have several times been brought to the notice of the world, more especially at times of financial crisis. ■ Cities a Curse. Immense cities are an unmitigated curse. Costly to maintain, they are holders of crime, disease and discon-

tent and are factors in increasing unemployment. Such centres where vast human herds congregate together have long been anathematised by our leading thinkers, who have studied this problem. Practical businessmen, like Cadbury and Lever, early recognised the weaknesses of , cities from a business point of view, and with others have built their model villages. It has been left to wne" great Henry Ford, however, -to prove to the hilt the folly of creating vast towns, and having the financial means, he has definitely set out to run his own great business on a series of small villages along the river Rouge. As in all innovations Ford thoroughly tried the experiment out before putting it into operation on a vast scale, and proved thereby, unbelievable though it may appear, that be could produce on a cheaper scale by so doing. In conjunction with his policy of decentralisation—which, in- • cidentally, has for the time being at 9 least, ruined 'the city of ■' Detroit— Ford encourages agricultural pursuits to such an extent that he runs ' so far as is possible with his main job of producing cars. Such is'

the proven and paying policy of the greatest manufacturer the world has known. Present Policy Weak. In this connection it is noteworthy that New Zealand and Australian States are travelling in the other direction. The growth of large towns is out of all proportion to the settlerson the land, and this has been accentuated since the war, during which time the drift to the cities has become much greater than in previous years. This has been largely due to a lack of appreciation of what may be termed the agricultural sense by our politicians. The bulk of our legislation tends to the benefit of the large towns as against that of the countryside with its necessary shopping and business centres. A few of the main defects in our present policy niay be summarised as follows:—(1) Bolstering up leading centres by heavy taxation by way of protective duties and allowing unrestricted loan policies; (2) utter lack of a comprehensive land policy; (3) an education system which turns out thousands of clerk§, typists and so on, and which floods 'tjie higher professions irrespective ofNthe aptitude or qualifications of the student, and which practically ignores 'the greatest industry in New Zealand; (4) neglect of technical training and any effort to find out the calling most suited to a particular student; (5) lack of cheap money for farmers. Encourage the Settler. Dealing with the first, the utter folly of encouraging industries, with practically a blank cheque should be apparent to all. It does not matter where our hats are made, so long as if possible they are made within the Empire. To pay £2 for a hat which could be procured for £1 but for protection, just for the sake of having some of them made in New Zealand, .3 bad business. The same argument npplies to most other articles, and is especially absurd in connection with raw materials or articles needed for farming pursuits. A patchwork policy never landed anyone anywhere but in a muddle—unless by pure accident. Without a comprehensive land policy with certain definite aims, and backed by scientific investigation, little can be accomplished in this direction. When the utter absence of a policy is attended by minor legislation which pricks the farmer, it is no wonder few care to go on the land. In England the country' postman is an institution. In New Zealand the farmer has to pay heavily for such a service, which in the case of the telephone becomes extortionate in comparison to the fee of the city dweller. The latter have compensations enough, and because installation is cheaper it is no valid reason why the farmer should be charged more, especially if settlers are to be encouraged to v take up land. It is not intended for a moment that a postman should visit each farm or a telephone should be installed gratis, but undoubtedly far greater facilities should be extended at lesser cost than is now done. With 97 per cent of our exports coming from the land the country should be treated as a whole, and with such national services as the post, telephone and electric supply, the town, dweller should pay a greater share of the cost than he does now. The present policy of isolation is one of the greatest bars to new settlement, and every possible effort should be made to bring all settlements in the closest touch with their rural centres. Status of Farming. In a country so eminently suited for farming purposes our educational system’is sadly at fault in its utter neglect of catering for the country’s greatest industry. An 'odd professorial chair, a pile of buildings in Manawatu, and another in the South Island, is simply playing with the idea. Already complaints have been made by praotical farmers that the buildings being erected near Palmerston’ are too costly and far beyond the means' of- any farmer. What is wanted is not a show place, but a practical demonstration ©a the most profitable systems of farming', back-

ed by highly subsidised research de(Continued at Foot of Next Column.)

partmants, coupled with this should be a well thought out system of disseminating the knowledge gained amongst the rank and file of the farming community. Agricultural work has too long been regarded as a pursuit for' the; fool of the family. The -status . must , be-raised for the calling of the farmer is one of the highest and most scientific when regarded in its proper light, that it is possible for a youth to enter., In the finest farming country in the world it is surely not too much to expect that such a lesson should be inculcated into the youth of the coun- • try during his ■ most receptive years.