ROTARIAN'S PROPOSAL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 393, 30 November 1932, Page 6

ROTARIAN'S PROPOSAL

PURCHASE OF ABANDONED FARMS WITH PUBLIC AID. AUCKLAND BANK'S SUPPORT. Some of the Rotary Clubs in the Dominion, with a view to assisting in the solution of the unemployment problem, have brought before the Government various plans of land settlement. Among these schemes is one devised by Mr. D. Bryant, a prominent member of the Rotary Club of Hamilton. Mr. Bryant's scheme was briefly outlined in Christchurch last week by Mr. Harry Valder, the District Governor of Rotary in New Zealand. "Briefly, the scheme is this," said Mr. Yalder. "Mr. Bryant conceived the idea that if he could get the public to make a free gift of £20,000 to the Land Scttlement Society, which is to be set up, it would form a nucleu.s with which to purehase farm assets, which assets, to provide further finance, could be mortgaged on a debenture scheme. The wrhole plan is based on the position of being able to purehase abandoned or semi-improved farms at a price which would enable butter-fat to be produced in the Waikato at a profit, even on the present low prices. "As a start toward the nucleus fund of £20,000, the Auckland Savings Bank has contributed £10,000, on eondition, that the other £10,000 should be contributed by individuals interested in the scheme, and at the present time only £1500 more is required. "As soon as the £20,000 is raised, the society will be registered, and suitable areas purchased. The Unemployment Board has agreed that as soon as the areas purchased are ready ihe Board will allow the unemployed to go on to these areas and make the necessary improvements; and the board will pay those m >n the same rate of wages as are now being paid for the ordinary relief work on the roads. This will enable the land to be brought to the point of production at a very low overhead cost. When the areas are sufficiently improved the land will be divided into 40-acre or 50-acre sectior.s, and these will be balloted for amongst those who have been concerned in the work of improving the land. "I have be »n working in collaboration with Mr. Bryant in formulating this scheme," added Mr. Valder, "and it seems to rne that it is based on eeonomic principles, which hold a greater promise of success than any other scheme put forward. "If a scheme of this nature cannot be made a success by providing the necesary eapual, management, and abour at a low cost as contemplated mder the Bryant scheme, then ther > ' very little hope for one of the ma:ov industries of this Dominion, the lairy industry. It is proposed to register the Waikato Land Seitlement .Society under the Incorporated Societies Act, and a set of rules and reguations has been drafted for this purpose,' and it may be noted in this conncetion that under this Act the members of the society are unable to derive any personal benefit. All that now remains to complete the launch;ng of the scheme is the balance of ,'1:0, 000, which doubtless will be contributed within the next week or two."