SUBDIVISION OF C.D. FARM.

Shannon News, 15 March 1929, Page 3

SUBDIVISION OF C.D. FARM.

3 GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL SUPPORTED AT OHATJ. TO "LEASE BY BALLOT REPORTED. i In view of the conference of various bodies, to be held in Levin to- ■• night at the request of the Chamber of Commerce, to consider the future of the Central Development Farm, which the Government proposes to cut up for settlement, a discussion took place ar. the annual meeting of the Ohau branch of the Fanners' Union last night, when the general opinion was that the purpose to which the Farm should be put should be that of providing a number of dairy farms. The President (Mr Harold McLeavey) stated that when the Massey College was mooted the branch worked hard to have the college established at the CD. Farm, jbut .failed, arid it was not likely to be shifted from Palmers-' ton North to that site. That block of land at Weraroa had been costing the taxpayers'hundreds of thousands. The Government had quite rightly decided now to cut the Farm up for i settlement; but there was a move to oppose that course, witk tie object »f having either the whole or a part of vhe property reserved for educational purposes. He advocated that the authorities should "go the whole hog," and cut up the farm as a whole. There wore sufficient agricultural colleges in New Zealand, with one for each Island. If he had a boy who required to bo taught farming, he would send him to a practical man. No doubt the knowledge to be learnt at the Massey College could do a power of good, but the average youth who was going farming would learn his vocation from a farmer. A student, after leaving the College, might know how many hairs were in the tail of a dog or how many seeds in a pod, but if he tried to make a living on a 50-acre farm he would starve. The business of the people of this district was to see that the CD. Farm was made to produce a-nd to pay rates. Mr R. G-. Wall, said he thought it was quite a wise move to subdivide the Farm, whose 800 acres of some of/ the best land on the coast would, in the form of small farms, produce an enormous, amount of revenue for the district, which in the past had had to supply an enormous sum for the upkeep of the Farm. Mr R. Gibbons considered that the property was far too valuable to be used for any other purpose than that of 60-acre farms. It was all ready for production, provided that stock were available, of course. ; Mr R. V. Brown pointed out that the Farm had been managed well for the past few years as a stock farm. It had been emphasised prior to this meeting that the Farm was providing employment for about 50 people. If it were cut up it would make 16 farms supporting- that number of families economically. As. far as the County was concerned, if thai land were made into small farms, there would be more rates coming in and more revenue for the district. No doubt the' strings were being pulled now to try to stop the subdivision of the Farm. He thought that more notice would be taken of the views of the farmers of the district in regard to the Farm than of the views of the townspeople.

Mr R. W. Evans expressed the opinion that, if the Farm was to be disposed of, it should be under the leasehold system, because the Government did not know when that land might be required for some other purpose. It would be as well if a deputation from this meeting were sent to the conference, that they should be quits clear in their minds as to whether the Government was going to sell or lease the Farm. He endorsed • the views of the previous speakers as to subdivision The Farm had outgrown its usefulness, now that, the Massey College was established' at Palmerston; but it was quite capable of very large production. Mr Wall said he thought that the foundation of successful farming was the freehold. If farmers', sons werfto take it up under leasehold, they should be given the right to convert to the freehold if they wished. Tho man who had the freehold had a greater motive .for work than if he was on leasehold. Mr Brown stated that he was a member of the deputation which the Horowhenua A. tmd P. Association sent to interview Mr Hawken when Minister of Agriculture. Mr Hawken gave them a very good reception and stated that Cabinet had practically decided to subdivide the Farm, but that under no consideration would the freehold be given. The then Minister pointed out that there had,been so many calls for agricultural clubs and kindred organisations that it was advisable to hold the Farm for the revenue that would *be derived from the leases; Mr Hawken thought that some part of the Farm should be divided into small areas to allow men working in the district to have their own homes and run a few cows. There had been a* change of Government since, but Mr Brown thought that they we're of the same opinioiuas the former Government in the mater. He understood that the occupation system favoured by the late Goyernment in respect of the Farm property was the 10 years' lease with' the right of renewal. The Chairman said be agreed with Mr Wall regarding the freehold tenure. He thought it would be a wrong step for the Government to lease the Farm with a view of some day acquiring it again. The leasehold only made a half-hearted farmer. Mr E. Hogg' mentioned that the disposal of the Moumahaki- experimental farm had been by a straight-out sale. Mr Brown stated that the late Minister had brought up the question of

IMoumahaki as an argument against selling. A number of the purchasers had found that they could not make a success of it, with .the' result that the

property came back on to the Government's hands. The Government intended to make a reasonable rental - for the CD. Farm and hold a ballot for the leases, and. trafficking, in sections by the successful applicants would be absolutely prohibited. 4 , Mr Wall moved that the represen*" tatives of the branch at tho conference be instructed to advocate. ..that the Farm be cut* up into small' areas for dairying; The motion' was Seconded by the President (Mr Harold McLeavey), and was carried unanimously.' ' The President and Messrs R. G. Wall aud Dudley Brown were appointed to be the branch's delegates to the conference. . .