UNEMPLOYMENT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 212, 2 May 1932, Page 2

UNEMPLOYMENT

E. Earle

i Vaile.)

ACTION NECESSARY LA&GE SCALE LAND, SCHEME ONLY SOLUTION OF PROBLEM. PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.

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With 55,000 men actually out of work or employed more or less usefully — or uselessly — under our various uhemployment schemes, it must be? acknowledged by all that the posi- . tion is acute. 1 Something rnust be dorie, and at once and on a large scale, tondj that something must be within the financial c'ap'acity of the country, and within the physical and mental capaeity of the jihemployed. Provision has to be made not for twos': or threes, but for thouskrtds. The unemployed must be given a hope, the surplusage of labour must be taken- off the markets, the unemployed must be removed from the city pavements, where they have too much leisure to ponder over ' their misfortunes and grievances, and perhaps to hatch sedition. Now, there are only two essentials to the production of wealth — land and labour. We have both /in abundance. Shall ii^ pass our wits to bring the two together? I venture to say that the land is our only resource. In a very real sense everybody in New; Zealand lives on grass. My suggestion, therefore; is that the Government shall take a considerable area of Crown land or acquire such an area of private land not broken, watered ar^d reasonably: accessible, and subdivide it into (a) village allotments, (b) a large number of five acre plots, (c) some 10 acre1 plots, (d) some srnall farms of say 50 acres, (e) a reasonable arfea of commonage. Settlement Councils. I suggest thatf such( -settlements ( should be controlled by a council con- ' sisiting of some elected by the settlers, some appoirtted by| the Government from among experienced farmers in the locality, and, say, a representative of the Department of Agriculture. \ ■ The village allotments would be taken by tradesfolk — storekeeper (perhaps co-operative), blacksmith, and by social conveniences, such as public hall, posi^ and telephone office, etc. , The five-acre lots should be open to all unemployed, no qualifications to be required 'except the will to work. In the case of a settler not working satisfactorily, the council should have the right to forfeit his section. The land may bej applied, say four acres for the family cow and two or three "killer" sheep and some poultry; one acre to garden and orchard, andj I will guarantee that the settler never need be idle. i The cost of these plots, I estimate as follows: Land i(partly improved), £25; materials for a modest house, £50, for outbuildings, £10, for fences £15, water supply £15, manure and seeds £5, live stock ,£10, tools and wheelbarrow £5; a total of £135. The settler's own labour should be usecl , in ereeting the buildings, fences, etc., subject to supervision. This modest outlay would entail a| rent of not more than 3s per week, plus insurance and rates. The 10-acre polts, suitable for orchards would entail an outlay of, say, £250. The 50-acre farms furnished for dairy purposes at least £650. Applicants for them would have to be examined as to their qualifications. Mutual Help Factor. In 'such, a settlement, on a reason ably large scale, there would be farmers, carpenters, plumbers, labourers — all sorts. Co-operative and mutual help would be'of the greatest value, The proximity of dwellings would relieve the sense of isolation and lonelihess. After having established) the settlers, the Government would still have to provide sustenance, ,but at a much reduced cost. After the first year 10s per week would be ample. Each section would be charged with the cost of the land, of materials supplied and of labour other than that of the owner, and the rent based on such cost. So it would be to the advantage of all concerned to jkeep the capital costs down. As soon as fhe settlers became established, they would have the option of securing the freehold at cost and on easy.ternls of payment. I do not suggiest any district for these settlements, but the land m,ust not be broken, there must be ample water to provide a permanent supply for every section, thei*e must be> reasonable access and the land must be eheap. As the settlements would be largely self-contained, distance. would hot be a very. important factor; ind'eed, thex'e is some advanta'ge in securing the land in a sparsely settled district. The presence of a large body of new settlers should so increase the land value as to secure the financial success' of the venture. A main feature of such settlements would be that settlers would themselves consume the produce of the settlement rather than seek to sell it on an already ,over-supplied market. But there would be a village market where any surplus produce could be exchanged or sold. Improved Land Advantageous. It would be a very great advantage if suitable areas ';of partly improved land could be obtained. Then a herd of cows and a flock of sheep' would provide a considerable portion of the food of the settlers from the very jump. Bush or plantations for firewood also would be most desirable. '■ j We have excellent precedent for the success of such group settlements. Whert in Athens a few years ago I learned of the wonderful success of the Greek Government . (with the assistance of the Bank of England and later of the League of Nations) in settling on the land over a million of the penniless refugeeS. from Asia Minor. The average area per person was about 11 acres. The area per family varied from ione-eighth; acre to 25 acres. Some settlements? had to be supplied with water carried from a distance on the backs of animdls. The '.climate was mfich more

severe than anything experienced in New Zealand. But we may come near home. At Karaka, near Auckland, ^herel is a group of 20 persons settled on only 14 acres. A full aecount of this may be had from the New Zealand Herald of February 24 last. Now, it is not pretended that the scheme here outlined is perfect. Any scheme whatever is open to objection. But I claim that it fills the main requirements — it will settle adequate numbers and at once and is well within the financial capaeity of the country and within the physical and mental capaeity of the unemployed. It provides an opening\ancH a hope) for the "down and out.": Anyhow, if no ohe ean suggest a better scheme, I claim? for it the support of all thoughtful folk and well-wishers of New Zealand.