LAND SETTLEMENT.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 303, 29 August 1929, Page 7

LAND SETTLEMENT.

.MATAMATA DISCUSSION. A, Action Urged. An interesting discussion on land •settlement occupied the major portion of the last meeting of the Matamata branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, a resolution being ultimately carried urging the Government to experiment with a block of 5000 acres, and if successful to carry on the work on a large scale. Mr. T. H. Prowse (chairman) stated that the sub-provincial council had suggested the scheme as a means of solving the unemployment question. The idea was to take an urea in 20,000 acre blocks and put unemployed workers on to road and break same in, for which would be i paid agricultural labourers’ wages. Twenty-five per cent of the wages would be paid into a fund to form a current account to purchase stock, etc., when the land was settled by those breaking it in. The whole j work would be supervised by a com- , mittee of three, two being elected by * the Farmers’ Union and the third i ' being the Commissioner of ' Crown J . Lands. j Mr. Simpson pointed cut there 1 would be little security for the necessary loan, and that an alteration in the Act would be necessary to bring the scheme into being. The chairman stated that at the •end of ten years those successful in the ballots would be given the freehold. There would be no capital charge on Crown lands. Mr. Price stated there would have

ho be some capital charge, else there Would be nothing to charge the settlers for. Mr. Rollett thought with a lot of the pumice land it would pay the Government to make no capital charge but to give them the land Tree. Mr. Seed stated if the Government wanted to help the unemployed they should take up a block of unimproved land, road it, and put it in grass, and then settle it at the prices which it cost to break in. The chairman stated that a Mr. Martin had stated the land could be grassed for £5 per acre. Mr. Simpson thought he should get his head read. (Laughter). Mr. Price said he thought the land I s could be put down in temporary grass for that amount, but every farmer knew, that if he was paid for - all the labour he put into his proW perty it would be too dear. The Government must be prepared to lose money. Mr. Tong thought that if grassed in 20,000 acre blocks the work could "be done about one-third cheaper than in small lots. Mr. Simpson stated that pumice was not poor man’s country, but rich man’s. All old settlers knew that the poor man had gone under in early years. It was no good sending settlers in without roads. If the land was debited with the total cost it would be too dear. He felt the Government should take up, say, 50,000

acres, and if successful take in another 5000. The highest cost would be on the first 5000, as there would be no grass for the horses, and everything would have to be carted in. This applied to stock also.’ If it Was sick country the cost would be greater still because losses for stock would have to be contended with. The chairman stated there would have to be a manager. Mr. Simpson: fee would have to take his coat off. It’s no use having a gentleman manager. Mr. Price stated the land round Ngongotaha, where Mr. Martin was, was different to the block of pumice,country mentioned.

Invited to speak, Mr. Griffiths pointed out that every year the Government had been voting large sums j of money to relieve unemployment in j cities which was merely a palliation j and an unproductive one at that. Instead it was suggested that these | moneys be spent in developing virgin country, and settling men from the towns on it. The speaker advocated blocks handy to Matamata •and Putaruru being taken over, and controverted the statement that such country was necessarily rich man’s country. The speaker then quoted cases of two men whose names were known throughout the Waikato, who started, one with 10s and the other with £4OO saved from wages. Signed statements were also ■ read giving carrying capacity and returns from the Tokoroa factory. • Pumice land could be put in grass for £5 per acre if near communication, and from £6 to £6 10s if further back. If tacked in large blocks it Would be less. The secret of success was manure and farming the country in small blocks.

Mr. Price urged that £5 per acre was liable to misinterpretation. No one could be settled on such figures. The land also varied in quality and some of it had been down in grass previously, and had gone back. He felt the v e would h«* losses. Mr. Prowse pointed out the £5 per acre only applied to grassing, and that buildings and fencing were extra.

Mr. Griffiths stated the figures he quoted referred to virgin country. The carrying capacity stated had been done on pure white pumice land which had been shown to the Minister and his experts. He did not admit there would necessarily be losses, but even if there were it was better to try something constructive than spend the money in towns from which expenditure no good could come.

Mr. Price: Ch, I agree with that. Messrs. Simpson and Prowse then moved that this meeting of the Matamata branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union request the Government to set aside a block of 20,000 acres of pumice Crown lands and develop same with unemployed at farm labourers’ wages. A 5000 acre block to he taken for a start, and if successful the scheme to be continued with further developments of this nature on a large scale. The branch considered this would assist in developing the country, bring in revenue, and assist in adjusting the balance of labour by removing a surplus from congested towns and settling same on the land.

I Mr. Price, stated that he was going Ito support the resolution, as he i thought there were possibilities in the ; proposal. 1-Ie instanced the Scottish j Widows’ Block at Te Poi as an il- | lustration in point. At one time I thought to be of little use, this land I was now very productive, thought it j had cost a lot to bring in. A lot of [ money had been lost in the Matamata district in the early days. In speaking to the motion, Mr. Simpson held it was far wiser to spend money as suggested than in making sports grounds and erecting large buildings in the towns. Mr. Seed remarked that money had been lost in the early days largely because of conditions. Cheap manure had altered the whole situation in regard to such lands. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. i