FARM SETTLEMENT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 235, 26 May 1932, Page 6

FARM SETTLEMENT

COUNTY CHAIRMAN OUTLINES SCHEME FOR UTILISING CROWN LANDS

OPPORTUNITY FOR UNEMPLOYED COMPREHENSIVE SUGGESTIONS FOR ORGANISATION AND WORKING A Practical farm settlement scheme designed to establish unemployment workers on cultivatable areas of Crown lands was outlined by the chairman of the Rotorua County Council (Mr. H. P. Pord) yesterday, and was unanimously approved by his council. In outlining his scheme, Mr. Pord stressed the fact that settlement along the lines advocated, would offer a reasonable prospect to the settler of attaining ultimate indepedence or at the least relieving some portion of the unemployment sustenance at present being paid to him.

As a practical farmer and one with many years experience of local conditions, Mr. Ford appended a number of practical details of probable expenditure, together with comprehensive suggestions for the organisation of the scheme. In bringing forward his proposals, Mr. Ford expressed the opinion that land settlement for workers with little or no capital should not be overloaded by the purchase of private land, but that an endeavour should be made to utilise and bring into production, blocks of undeveloped Crown land which could be made available at a very low initial cost. "I feel convinced that our county and district offers scope for action in this direction and that a very useful purpose would he served by utilising unemployment relief labour on suitable farm colony schemes. It is essential that unemployed men should be placed on productive works and with this object in view I have drawn up a tentative settlement scheme which I submit herewith for your consideration. The principles of this scheme could be applied in any locality where . undeveloped lands are available," said Mr. Ford in bringing his proposals before the council. "This scheme is drawn up with a view to assisting unemployed families who at present have not the necessary means to acquire farms offering a reasonable degree of success or ultimate independence. "The position is outlined to deal with virgin Crown lands. For illustradition I will take a block of land of sufficient area to create a farm colony of fifty settlers with individual holdings of about 100 acres, special care being taken to provide at least 60 acres of arable land within each section. Having surveyed the block into sections as outlined, the next step would he to invite applications from those of the unemployed desirous of becoming farmers . The form of application would be similar to that now in existence and used by the Lands Department, with the exception that in his case the applicants' financial position would not affect his taking part in the ballot. The chief credentials required would be experience, personal inclination and ability to farm the class of land offered for selection. Developmient "The personnel of the settlQm being now defined, the work of road formation and other development necessary to farming must proceed, allowing for no wastage of time as quick production must be the keynobf to success in this scheme. Keeping this fact in view, a development camp could be established, under capable supervision, a suitable number of single unemployed men could be usefully employed in the initial work of road formation, fencing, clearing, working the land and laying down pastures. The area of grass to be laid down by this means would be not less than 40 acres to each holding, together with the erection of all boundary fence*. "In line with the above operations the holders of the settlement sections would be required to worK under, and as instructed by a capable Director of Works who with the assistance of necessary unemployed tradesmen could at once set about erecting farm buildings including farm cottages on the respective holdings, also preparing generally the farms for immediate production as soon as the pasture and cultivation plots are available. With the use and proper application of the labour as outlined, there is no reason why the 40 acres pasture in each holding as already mentioned, together with the required fencing and buildings, should not be completed within the first year's occupation. Finance "It will be understood that in the first instance, the settler had no capital for the purchase of required materials such as seeds, manure, etc. The providing of such financial assistance on sound lines is a most difficult problem. However the following facts must he recognised. (1) The application of labour with no charge on the property would in itself build up an equity over and above the cost of materials, etc., as already quoted. j (2) With the use of free labour i mentioned, together with the bringing in of the unimproved portion of the holding, it should be quite possible for an average settler to build up a sound position financially. Costs and Interest "By capitalising the payment of interest on such monies advanced, for a period of years, say five, thus giving the settler a free hand to com-

pete lmprovements to his section, it should then he possible to produce sufficient to meet his obligations as outlined in the statement of estimated costs as under. It will he noted that a weekly rental of about 14s per week would cover settlers obligations to the Crown, a very modest rental for a farm of say 100 acres. Cost to Settler Seed and manure for laying down 40 acres of pasture .... 120 Fencing material — boundary and part internal 75 Timber and other requirements for farm cot'tage 125 Material for small cowshed and dairy, in this case no machinery excepting cream separator payment for which is included in this quote 35 Material for shed for storing tools and fertiliser .10

Possible water supply necessary, say 15 Dairy cows 15 to pasture on 40 acres improved 90 Single furrow plough, harrows, two light harness horses, including harness Payment for unimproved Crown land 5s per acre .... 25 Providing manure for top-dress-ing second year 40 Postponed interest over 5 years 124 Total cost to farmer £725 Relief Sustenance "First year: In the first year's operations it would he necessary to grant the settler full time allowanee under No. 5 scheme, but in this case settlers would apply their whole time to the improving .of their respective farms as directed hy the foreman acting for the Crown, who be it clearly understood would not in any way hamper the settler in his methods or classes of improvements provided they were of a reasonable nature and in line with the requirements of sound farming. Second year: "By this time some pasture should be available- enabling settler to milk a few cows. The monies derived from this source, together with various other lines from the cultivation plot, makes it quite obvious that his sustenance could easily be reduced by half, .recognising the fact that he would now he established in his own farm house, free of rent for

the time being. "Third year: We now arrive at the third year of operations on the settlement. If the scheme has been well and carefully managed there should be no reason to prevent settlers from getting along on say 10s per week for this year at the end of which they will cease to he a charge on the Unemployment Tax funds. From the end of the third year the settlers only financial assistance from the Crown will be the postponement of interest as mentioned up to five years. Administration "Roading operations could be cor>. ducted under the direction of the Public Works Department, and labour from established camp for single unemployed men could be used for this purpose. Supervision of farm development such as mencing, clearing of land, preparing soil and laying down pasture could be directed by a prPBtical farmer of proved business ability, and with a thorough knowledge of local conditions where the farm colony is being established.

"There is no reason why work on farm buildings cannot be done hy unemployed tradesmen, the location of the buildings to be where the farm director decides, keeping in view the convenience and requirements of the respectice farms to be served. For the general advantage of the parties concerned in the scheme il would suggest the setting up of a local committee consisting of three practical farmers preferably members of the local county council, because of their wider knowledge of the district; this committee could co-operate with the Lands Department in the administration of the settlemen over the first five years operations, which would really be the foundation period of the farm colony, and at a time when sound local advice would he a most waluable acquisition towards the ultimate success of the venture. "This committee would also provide a useful medium with whom the settlers might discuss the various problems which no doubt would at times appear. I feel sure 'such a committee would greatly assist thd. Department by reason of its local knowledge and the fact that it would as it were be the man on the spot, where immediate service on sound lines could be rendered. "I have gone carefully into the different aspects of the scheme which is worked out to suit conditions in our Rotorua district, where, like others, I have established my own farm from scrub land of average quahty. From experience gained, I claim there is no reason to prevent a farm colony being successfully founded on the lines suggested." Treated With Contempt Councillors generally, expressed themselves in favour of the principle of using undeveloped Crown land, but Cr. J. E. Martim said that he held out very little hope of the Government being stirred to action. Some time ago, the New Zealand Farmers' Union had suggested similar schemes, but they had been turned down flatly and the advice of the Union had been treated with contempt. The Lands De-

partment and the Department of Agriculture had been chiefly responsible for turning it down, He did not blame the officials of the Department for this attitude, it was the interference from headquarters in Wellington which was responsible for the trouble. He approved of the scheme, but he did not see how it could be worked. The chairman said that he was against money being spent on the purchase of private land when there was so much undeveloped Crown land waiting to be brought into cultivation. It was the initial cost of purchasing private land, which overloaded land settlement schemes. He considered that the Council and fhe farmers of the district were the men with the local knowledge and the people best qualified to push the scheme forward. The Rotorua people had th7>usands of acres of undeveloped land

which could be brought into production. Cr. Martin. We have told them that already. The chairman: Well keep on telling them and telling them and one of these days we must succeed. Mr. Ford added that he had merely submitted the scheme to test the feeling of the Council towards it. Before anything could he done, it would have to be submitted to the Minister for Employment and his approval obtained. "Only an Excuse" Cr. Martin reiterated his opinion that nothing would be done if the matter was left to Government departments. Ngakuru was only to be used to settle about six families and was being used as an excuse for the Departments concerned to keep on experimenting with it. The chairman: It is not a great deal of good, Cr. Martin, pulling existing schemes to pieces . We have got to find a better one if we can. Cr. A. L. Keith said he thoroughly approved the principle of using undeveloped Crown land and not purchasing private property. Cr. Martin asked how the scheme could be financed. The chairman. said that there Were many ways in which the money could be found It had been suggested that portion of the petrol tax could he used while there was the large amount available from taxation through the unemployment levy. They could at least show that unemployed labour. could he utilised without any additional expenditure than that which was involved at present. It would remove unemployed on to some scheme where they could be to some degree self supporting. > Cr. Martin: You have 80,000 people in New Zealand to-day connected with the land and you have no scheme solid enough to.help' them there. There is no room for the rest of these people. The chairman: It is no use crying "stinking fish," Cr Martin, after all. "The principle of this scheme is all right. The details could be debated afterwards," said Cr. Keith who moved that the principle outlined by the chairman be approved Cr. Martin: The whole trouble is that every man who brings down a scheme thinks his the only one. Mr. Jackson has one and says it is the only one and so has Mr. Vaile. "Well so far as I am concerned I don't want any puff out of it," said Cr. Ford. "I have got past that stage. But we can at least send it forward to the proper authorities. The most we will get is probably that it will be "carefully investigated," but it may be that some little details which may be useful will he used." After some further discussion, the scheme was unanimously approved and it was left to the chairman to forward it through the proper' authorities.