FIFTY-ACRE FARMS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 48, 31 May 1916, Page 2

FIFTY-ACRE FARMS.

LAND FOR THE SOLDIERS, OBJECTION TO THE BACKBLOCKS BIG CAPITALIST HOLDINGS THREATENED. At to-day’s meeting of the .Taranaki War Relief Association, the matter pi financing returned soldiers , on backblock sections was referred to by Mr AI(-Phillips (Manaia). He , said the men who returned to New Zealand and were discharged from the forces should be assisted in every possible way. The Government should acquire the large holdings of first-class land between Wanganui and New Plymouth, and cut up in blocks of suitable size to be worked by the returned men. The back country sections were quite unsuitable for returned men, as the workrequired to make them self-supporting was very great. The capitalists should be driven to the back country, while the big holdings should be cut up ifito dairy farms, of small areas. He would not agree to the Association putting money into back-block sections, ,H'realised that the matter of acquiring first-class lane] might seem a b'ig outlay,, but it would repay the Government handsomely, in the future. Perhaps only one family resided on large farms at the present time, hut il the land was subdivided it would do lor ten !to twenty returned men. ( They encouraged men to go away, and ni justice i;o them they should npike provision for them. The Association would be very useful in financing 'the men to buy stock, etc. As chairman of a recruiting board in the Manaia dis-trict,-he had urged upon many men to enlist, and who, to his knowledge, had sold their interests in small farms to do so. In conclusion, he said, “we are Up against it, gentlemen'," and 'the 1 least we can do is to reinstate th'C men when they return. This call'be done if the men are placed on sinall dnirv farms of first-class land.” ' The Chairman (Mr Wilson) said it Would give him much pleasure to second a motion on the lines of il'" McPhillips’ remarks. Ho Was ' thoroughly in accord with the ‘ilVatter, but did not wish to enlarge on the previous' speaker’s remarks. The matter had been thoroughly discussed at last meeting of the New Plymouth committee, when members said that back-bloc-: land was quite unsuitable for returno< men. It was also resolved to bring the matter of cutting up large holdings before the Taranaki members oi the House.

I Mr. McPhillips moved, and the chairman seconded; “That this meeting <"■ tlie Taranaki Provincial War Peliei Association considers it would he to tb best interests of the men who have enlisted from Taranaki if the Government would acquire for them some of the best dairying land between Wanganui and New Plymouth for dairying purposes, as a great number who enlisted from Taranaki were used to dairying; that should the Government adopt the above scheme, this Association would assist both the Government and the men in every possible way; and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Eight Hon. the Prime Minister, to Sir Joseph Ward, the Taranaki members of the House of Representatives, and members of the Legislative Council.”

Mr Dunn (Farmers’ Union), in supporting the motion, said the baca country, away from civilisation, was totally unsuited for returned men. Tin; Government should acquire the big holdings and cut them up into 50-acre sections, which would be quite large enough to support a man comfortably. The farms could be stocked with twenty cows, which would on an average of Is alb for butter fat bring in about £ls each. The Association could finance the men with confidence, as it

could be assured of getting the money back or receiving interest. Mr H. A. Brown had brought the matter before the Farmers’ Union about twelve months ago, when he said it was in the best interests of the Government and the people that the large holdings should be cut up into 50-acre farms. The matter should be brought about when occasion warranted it, and that was now. Tn England it had been decided to subdivide the large areas and to establish demonstrating farms to instruct the men, by watching results, how to run the farms from day to day. He was of opinion that something ol i similar nature could he inaugurated n New Zealand, as they were men who were not thoroughly versed in dairying. Other members also spoke in favor al tin' motion, which was then carried unanimously.