MR. BROADFOOT HITS OUT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 922, 15 March 1930, Page 10

MR. BROADFOOT HITS OUT

GOVERNMENT LAND POLICY SUICIDAL VIRGIN COUNTRY FIRST From Cl Oxen Correspondent TE KUITI, Today. Tho member for Waitomo, Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, who recently left the United Party caucus and who then stated in reply to questions, *'l have nothing to discuss,” now makes a statement. Asked whether he would , ;express an opinion in regard to the Government’s .land settlement policy, especially as it concerned the Wilden estate .(Otago), lately* purchased for : close settlement, the member, after i consideration, gave an affirmative answer to Pressmen, adding that he felt I it his duty to do so. Mr. Broadfoot expressed extreme ; dissatisfaction at the policy of the Government in purchasing high-priced land that was already producing. He said, ‘T took up public life with the object, of furthering land settlement in New Zealand, and I realise that after -10 y ears’ study* of this matter, and per- | sonal observations of my own when i travelling over the Auckland Pro- j vince, that there are hundreds of thousands of acres of idle lands that i can be made highly productive. I have j always taken up the attitude that to purchase high-priced lands that were already producing was wrong when | there are such vast areas -that could j be made highly productive. The Wilden Estate is already producing and employ’s a large number of permanent as well as casual workers. If the same amount of money paid for this estate was used in the develop- | merit of virgin country it would give a ! much larger increase in production and the labour required would be a large factor in dealing with the problem of unemployment. • It seems that this , huge expenditure will provide farms for 13 men, whereas, if the same amount had been utilised in the development of Crown and native lands it would have settled at least 60.” “Finance must be difficult at the present time, and why dissipate it in this way? Will the number of new settlers on the subdivision be greater than the number now employed? Will the vendor of the Wilden estate reinvest the purchase money in our Dominion or has he decided to invest it in Western Australia? These were questions put by* Mr. Broadfoot. “When 1 linked up with the United Party it was understood that the land ; policy of the Party was t.o make a | thorough investigation of idle lands and to find out those areas that would lend themselves to close settlement. It was never intended to interfere with those lands that were already producing unless it could be proved that the unoccupied lands could not be farmed in small holdings. Having travelled over most of tho Auckland Province during the last few years I am not exaggerating when I state that there are hundreds of thousands of acres of idle lands in this part of New Zealand which can be made highly* productive on a sound and economic basis by bringing these lands under cultivation.” PRODUCTION COSTS “The cost of production could be reduced all round, and employment found for hundreds of men. Every acre of land brought under cultivation is an asset to the Dominion as a whole. To state that I am disappointed at the land policy of the Government, is putting it mildly*,” continued Mr. Broadfoot. “I have endeavoured to work wholeheartedly with the U nited Party for the benefit of New Zealand, but if the j present land settlement policy is eonj tinned I must pursue a line of action ! which I hope will help to put a stop I to the present suicidal policy of pur- : chasing high-priced land, and work for j what I consider the only sane and I logical policy of making use of the idle lands which are suitable for close settlement in a primary producing country. The only sound way to deal with unemployment is to develop the idle lands in small holdings, and so give men with limited capital the opportunity* of taking up land.” Mr. Broadfoot concluded by* stating that he took up public life with the conviction that a vigorous land settlement policy was the only way by which this country could advance along the right lines, and the sooner the country took in hand regional land settlement j schemes, the better it would be for j the Dominion as a whole.

“I can only repeat that the Government’s land settlement policy has been a bitter disappointment to me. I expected something much different, but ieel sure that public opinion has now reached a stage when it will demand and get business methods introduced into any future land settlement schemes. Mr. Broadfoo't said lie was bitterly disappointed with the land policy of the Government, and that he intended to identify himself with those who would work to develop the resources of the country* on sound business lines.