LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1919, Page 2

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

To the Editor. Sir,—We have recently had it pointed out to us by the Acting Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and the general manager of the Bank of New Zealand that New Zealand's present liability can only be met by increased production. I personally cannot find any other solution. To bring this about it is absolutely necessary to have closer settlement and more intense cultivation. We have in the Taranaki province some very large holdings (owned by the "big men") of very good land suitable for closer settlement. It is a generally recognised fact that large holdings can invariably be bought cheaper (even after allowing for road- . ing and sub-division) than a small holding of similar quality. The reason is 1 that for every man who is looking for a 6000 to 10,000 acre block, or even less, there are a hundred or more who are on the look-out for a farm of from 50 to 100 acres. The demand is all for the small holdings. I would suggest that the owners of large blocks should be approached by the Government to put their places under offer at a reasonable figure, and failing these owners doing so, the Government Bhould take them at valuation, each side appointing its own valuer, and they the umpire Aggregation of land should be made impossible. It is a well-known fact in New Zealand that in every instance when the Government has purchased large holdings under the Land for Settlement Act, once the settlement has been established a very largely increased production has taken place, and dozens of families are now living in comfort on the estates that were formerly held by ine man. Now is the time for the Land Purchase Board to acquire some of those large holdings for our soldier boys. I understand that many of the small fanns offered are far too high in value for the Land Purchase Board, and most of them have been turned down—and no wonder. What soldier settler can hope to make two ends meet if he has to pay some of the prices that are being asked—anything from £3O to £BO per acre. I have seen plenty of iarge holdings in North, South and East Taranaki that are most suitable for the soldier settlers, and at prices from £lO to £ls per acre, and if these were purchased all would like a chance to acquire one of the sub-divisions at once. These settlers would hi.ve a chance to make good homes for themselves and families in a few years, and much sooner than if they purch.».sed some of the highpriced, so-called improved farms. I cannot see the wisdom of putting, the soldier on the already worked, farm. It means in the first place turning out a farmer who is fairly well up in his business, and putting on a man who can-, not hope to get such a good production. This business of buying out-the small fanner only bring? about a general post,: as the farmer selling out must look for another faxm, and 1 his is the main reason for inflated prices. Then again the new occupant has by bitter experience to learn the nature of his new purchase. The general trend is to produce less off the lands, which is bad business just nowThe purchase of these small farms is, perhaps, an easy way out for the Land Purchase Board, and, if continued, it Will not in any way relieve the land hunger. All of our soldiers will.-have returned in, a few weeks, and it.is imperative that land should be found for all those wanting the same. I personally know that the Land Purchase Board is finding great difficulty in securing - properties at anything like- a reasonable price. We do not want to force our soldiers to go out of the district they are known to., be god settlers. We should use every effort to put before the Government the urjgency of purchasing some of the large 1 oldings. I trust this letter will be read by some of the "big men," and that they will at once send full particulars of their holdings to the Government. My advice is: "Keep our young men here, and help them to make this the biggest producing district in New Zealand." This district has done well in the past, but can do very much better, if we get closer settlement and more intense cultivation we will double our production in ten years. It will then be the most sought-after province in New Zealand. Before the ten years have elapsed the port will be in full swing, with up-to-date facilities for hand-, ling our export.—Yours, etc.,

SMALL HOLDINGS & SUCCESS TO •. li&Aibwa,; -1