FOR CIVIL SERVANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 114, 11 June 1909, Page 4

FOR CIVIL SERVANTS.

THE' XEW SETTLEMENT SCHEME. The Prime Jlinister was asked by the Wellington Times if he could give further details regarding the proposal to give retired public servants an opportunity of securing occupation on the land, and the question found him quite ready. ''We have in all matters vvhere tire requirements of the people are concrned done our best to be ahead of the actual necessities of those concerned," commented Sir Joseph, "and we have not waited to lie told by our critics what we should do. Instructions have already been given to the Commissione r s of Crown Lands in Auckland, Taranaici, Wellington, -and Nelson to select suitable blocks of good land, as near a centre of contmunicnWon as possible, which can ilm set apart under what is' known as the Lands Improvement and Native Land Acquisition Act, 1894, which gives power to the Government to set .apart blocks of Hand specially for persons of tlhc description of; those' public servants who, owing to the reorganisation of the service, are losing thsir positions. They 'will not require to go fto the ballot, but will be able to take up sections of from 150 to 200 acres of bush land. The Government will advance the cost of clearing, and also make advances for the erection of houses, .fences, etc. Thus the men who take up' these lands will be able to secure regular payments to support them while clearing tllieir own sections', and the whole of the advance is capitalist on a 5 per cent, basis. Those who care to take up portions of the roadwork inside these settlements will be able to do so. By the time the public servants are ready to aunty for this land the Mocks will be available, nnd the season will ibe suitable for clearing, which can be carried out until early in December."

SETTLEMENTS IX OPERATION. An illustration of the working of a similar system, the Village Homestead Spe'eial Settlements, was quoted toy Sir Joseph. At Obakune and various other centres along the North Island Main Trunk line about two hundred cx-jm-ployecs of the Public 'Works Department are engaged on their own sections. "So you see," concluded the Prime Minister, "the dovernment is fully alive to the situation, and quite anxious to get as many people upon the land as is possible. It has been doing so all along, I and by the courses' I have indicated it wiil he seen that there is hope for numbers who. although they are losing one class of occupation, will find another which has the. merit of ensuring to them a permanent home and a life under the healthiest of conditions."