IF IT WERE TRUE!

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 339, 28 September 1932, Page 5

IF IT WERE TRUE!

(Press Assn.

ILLUMINAT1NG FACTS JOYS OF NEW ZEALANDER "DOWN ON THE FARM" ALLEGED BOGUS INTERVIEW

— By Telegraph — Copyright)

Wellington, Tuesday. An inquiry about a press intervi'ew alleged to have been given to the San Francisco Ohronicle hy the leader of the New Zealand Ottawa delegation, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, was. ad.dressad to the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. • G; W. Forbes) in the House of Representatives this afternoon by Mr. R. Semple ( Labour, Wellington East), who gave notice to ask Mr, Forbes if the interview had come under his notice and if so, whether he would take the necessary steps to supply the information regarding uneniployment and land settlement in New" Zealand in order to avoid a possible influx of immigrants from- the U.S.A. Mr. Semple quoted extracts from the interview as follows: "New Zealand is singing the song of back to the land with so alluring an accoxnpanying clink of cash, that thousands of city-bred folk are turning tillers of the soil. Twenty thousand single men and five thousand heads of families have turned farmers under the persuasiveness of 120 dollars from the Government and a tract of land rent free for five years, with' the privilege of leasing it at the end of that time. "To make the city folk contented down on the farm, they are provided with houses with all modern conveniences and taken to pietures twice a week. The plan is putting a deep dfsnt into the depression, Mr. Coates says, besides taking the pressure off the eities in caring for their needy."