MEN FOR THE COUNTRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 71, 10 August 1912, Page 7

MEN FOR THE COUNTRY

NEW FARMERS' UNION gCHEME. Auckland, August G. Steps arc being taken by the Auckland Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union to draw up a proposal to solve the problem of how to induce town laborers to migrate to country districts to take up farming work. The main ideas of the proposal baye been given to a Herald representatives by the Auckland provincial secretary. The latter said that it was useless to erect workers' homes upon small areas of land, as the occupants would be entirely dependent upon the work which they were able to secure from farmers. Their interests, too, would probably become opposed to those of the farmers, and, no doubt, disagreeable class distinctions would be set up. "It will be found," continued Mr. 'Sclimitt,""that,' unless provision is made for workers to be able to earn a part of their living on their own land, any scheme for the erection of workers' homes will fail to meet the requirements of the day. We will probably ask the (Uirernnient to erect workers' homos upon an area of not less than ten acres," he continued, "more being allowed according to the quality of the land in different districts. These farms .should be given on certain conditions, with right to acquire the freehold. In reality, therewould be formed small settlements from which men for farm work could be drawn from when necessary, but, when not need ed, these men could work upon their own lands, and would not, therefore, be solely dependent upon farmers for their living. The lesser cost of living, and the healthy surroundings, should attract married men to the country, with the result that a healthy country population would spring ii]).

"Tli'o workers' homos, of course," lie continued, "would be spread owt all provinces, the number being regulated by the demand for labor. The farmers and the Government should decide that question, and care would have to he taken that there was not a greater supply than the demand. The advantages of this proposal over any otlters that have ■been .submitted to the Government before, is that class distinctions would be avoided. ' The men would, to a great extent, be farmers themselves, and their interests would be identical with those of the farmers wdio employed them. There are many married men in the city who would he only too glad to get into the country tinder these conditions.