THE WAIKATO TIMES With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1930. LAND SETTLEMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17973, 19 March 1930, Page 4

THE WAIKATO TIMES With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1930. LAND SETTLEMENT.

The statement made by Mr Broadfoot, the member for Waitomo, of the disappointment he feels at the land policy pursued lay the United Party Is one that will he welcomed by very many people. In a general way everybody, including politicians, realises that the development of the waste lands of the Dominion is the flr.st and most important work before us. The purchase of farms that arc already toeing satisfactorily worked is thoroughly uneconomic, even if the transaciion is free from suspicion. We may judge from the frequency that charges arc made concerning tho purchase of settled lands that many transactions of the kind have some unsavoury history behind them, and any Government that valued its reputation would shun such purchases for this reason -if for no other. Mr Broadfoot says that there are hundreds of thousands of acres which produce nothing but could he turned into profitable farms, and lie is probably well within the mark. It is not only the areas of Crown lands, tout the other large areas which are owned by men who make so little use of them that they are a liability rather than an asset to the country. These men are waiting for an increased population to create a demand that will enable them to sell at a profit. As an investment such a method is futile, and any record of outgoings on such land would show that much less than tho current rate of interest is earned, and in the meantime the country suffers because no use is made of its, best asset. So far as settlement of Crown lands is concerned the Government arc doing something, tout might do much more. There are considerable areas to the north of Auckland that require little more than roading to become profitable, yet the money spent in this neighbourhood is going in railways, which may be wanted in 20 years' time but arc certainly nol wanted now. Roading is not ihe only work which the Government might carry out. If a man takes up virgin land he must fence, build a house, clear the scrub or bush, sometimes plough, and -must sow grass. It will take considerable time to do these things, and in the meantime he and his family must live. Unless he is better supplied with capital than is usual he runs the risk of losing the land after 'two or three years’ work. Why does not the Government do this preliminary work and charge it to the land? This would enable a man to take up such land and make -a living on it from tho start. An objection is sometimes -made that the cost of the work if done toy Government would toe greate” than it would be if the pioneer did it. This is probably so, but if the pioneer cannot find the necessary capital to carry out the work, economically or otherwise, it Is better that the Government should do so. It is a cruel business to induce a man to take up land on which he cannot make good; it simply creates an embittered citizen. Then again, what terms of payment do the Government arrange? It is better to give the freehold, for under that system a better use is made of the land. The old method of deferred payment, which meant 10 per cent, per annum for 10 years, might be beyond the capacity of some who were just starting, although it is not greatly different to the present rates of interest and sinking fund. The main thing is that every man taking up Government land should have some capital, and that it should not all be taken as part payment for the land. There are doubtless many other things which the practical farmer could point out as desirable. These may he termed the direct measures for the encouragement of land settlement. The indirect measures are at least equally important. The first tiling is to reduce costs. We are almost the highest taxed country in the world, and so far from any reduction being likely, every change means increased taxation. We attempt too much government and employ too many people supervising, instructing, directing and calling for statistics. It may be possible to put up a case in defence of these methods, but the 'truth is that we cannot afford them. Then (here is the system of protection by which one part of the country is permitted to tax all the other parts, and thereby spoil any chance of poultry-farming coming to success. The increased cost of flour and bread means increased cost of living, higher wages, and higher costs of production. We are told that j the values of primary products are | likely to fall during the next two or J three years. Do the Government realise this, and are they taking any steps to meet it ? The figures of dairy production show what a great country ibis is for pastoral pursuits. Our climate and rainfall are eminently suitable; our extended coast-line en- j surcs an equable climate, summer and j wilder. Canada, Argentina and Aus- I Iralia have advantages over us in Hie j production of wheat, hut cannot touch j us iu grass farming. As business men j we should develop our great asset. Politicians, however, are much more j anxious to turn liie energies ol Hie ■

people In the direct-ion of secondary industries, for which the shape of the country and its geographical position make it most unfit. Fanners are more strongly represented in the House than any other class, and they should be able to evolve some system of land settlement. To buy up farms is foolish, ancl in some cases it is to be feared it is worse.