LAND SETTLEMENT.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 296, 11 July 1929, Page 5

LAND SETTLEMENT.

LOCAL SCHEME. ? Submitted to M.’s P. The question of a vigorous progressive land settlement scheme was before a meeting held at Putaruru on Saturday. Mr. Allen, president of the Rotorua Sub-Provmcial Executive of the .New Zealand Farmers’ Union, presided, and the following gentlemen were present: Messrs. A. R. Vosper, K. C. Cox, Martin, L. M. Nicklin, Goebel, Lochhead and Prowse. In opening the proceedings, Mr. Allen said that had thought the matter over seriously, and could see the necessity for a comprehensive scheme to be drawn up and .something practical done, for there Jiad been a lot of talk. A man had recently been brought up from Invercargill to this district to show them how to settle the land, a policy which was ridiculous. Mr. Allen then presented a scheme as a basis to work on, and in order to avoid ■ repetition, the scheme as amended us set forth in this report. Mr. Allen’s first suggestion that a local board of four, three district men, with the Commissioner of Crown Lands as the fourth, was discussed. Mr. K. S. Cox favoured the reduction to three, two practical men and the Commissioner, these to have control of 20,000 acres. Mr. J. R. O. Lochhead stated that it had been stressed that the Land Boards as at present constituted were out of touch with the present

problems. The chairman agreed. Continuing, Mr. Lochhead said that the formation of local boards had been brought before the Minister of Lands (Hon. G. W. Forbes) when in the district, and the latter seemed favourable to the idea. A commission to go into the problems of the Putaruru district had been asked for. The speaker referred to the action of the Valuation Department in declining to grant loans ,to the Tokoroa farmers. Mr. Allen said that if these local boards, if established, recommended loans, then the said settlers would get the same facilities for finance as others. Mr. Cox said that the Public Works Department should also work in conjunction with the Lands Department and form roads. Mr. Cox instanced the settling of McGuthrie settlement, where there was a long interval between the settling and roading. In reference to local boards, the area Should be limited to say 20,000 acres, for local men could not travel far. The principle of the setting up of local boards was agreed to on the motion of the chairman. ■ On the question as to the number to constitute the board, Mr. Cox reiterated his opinion that it should be three, whilst Mr. Vosper suggested five. The former moved that the board consist of two practical men and the Commissioner of .Crown Lands. Mr. Lochhead was of the opinion that small committees were the best.

Mr. Martin moved, as an amendment, that the number be four, three practical men and the Commissioner, but this was defeated and the motion passed. When the question of roading was reached, Mr. Cox again expressed the opinion that the blocks should be say 20,000 acres. Mr. Prowse (Matamata) asked why so. The chairman thought that too -many boards would be cumbersome. Mr. Martin favoured the setting -up of administrative officers in the various districts, where all records could be kept. The chairman considered that this vyould be a matter of detail. Mr. Prowse said that if it were ieft to one board they may not have the knowledge of local conditions. Mr. Martin favoured setting up boards where necessary. Mr. Martin stated this could be left to the Government to decide as to how many boards were required. The chairman, in referring to roading said that the local boards should have a say in the layout of the roads, and the roads should be made before the land was settled. He moved that all weather roads he, made before the settlers go on to -the land. This was agreed to, Mr. Cox stating that it would find work for +be unemployed. The question of a manager for each h’ock was then discussed. Mr. Lochhead said that the idea of a working manager would be. similar to that of a certain land company in' the district, who has the l actual working supervision of the hloek. Martin stated that in the (government farms all the money got out of the land went into the Coni

I solidated Funds-; and it was hard to get it out again, ire instanced the Mamaku farm as an example. Both the chairman and Mr. Lochhead favoured the keeping of separate accounts. Mr. Nicklin said this would be similar to the Soldier Settlement Boards. Mr. Nicklin also stated that the Auckland Land Board should sit in Hamilton. On '-he motion of Mr. Cox, it was resolved that boards should have the whole financing of" the blocks, including the purchase of stock, chattels, etc. Mr. Cox opened up a discussion on the question of labour as to whether they were going to employ men who will take up land and as to the rare of pay. The question arose if they were going to pay the men all their wages or bank some to be used later as a deposit when taking up the land. Their idea should be to try and make the men save. Mr. Cox moved that the men be paid the average farm wages, 75 per cent, to be paid in cash, and the balance to be banked, to be used towards a deposit in the event of the employee taking up a section. The terms on which the payment of the holdings should be made were discussed, Mr. Lochhead being of the opinion that 10 per cent, deposit would be a trifle too heavy. Mr. Martin suggested working along the lines of the Advances to Settlers. On Mr. Lochhead’s motion, it was agreed that the provisions under the leases of the Land Act apply to these blocks. This was agreed as being the best preventive of improper dealing in lands for the period of 10 years.

Certain details as to how long an employee should be employed before being allowed tp take up land, and the questions of buildings, manures, etc., were left to the local boards. Mr. Lochhead raised the question of how the boards should be appointed. Mr. Martin referred to the d’fßculty in getting suitable men. but Mr. Nicklin thought that the Farmers’ Union would find the men. The chairman moved that the Government be respectfully asked to consult the Farmers’ Union branches in different localities in regard to the appointment of these local boards and the motion was carried. Mr. Vosper raised the question as f o whether cost of surveys, etc., should be a charge on the land, and it "was agreed that where unimproved Crown lands are brought in there should be no capital charge on such lands. It was decided to forward copies of these recommendations to Messrs. C. H. Clinkard, W-. E. Parry, Lee Martin, Rushworth and Poison, M.’pP. Votes of thanks to the chairman and the secretary (Mr. L. M. Nick’in) terminated a profitable meeting.