CLIFTON SETTLEMENT.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 16, 2 July 1920, Page 8

CLIFTON SETTLEMENT.

The following communication has been received froin the Hon. J . G. Geates, wno approached the Minister for Lands regarding the above settlement as a result of our interview during his recent visit to Invercargill. Dear Sir,— Referring to represent&tions made by me ori your behalf to tho Hon. Minister of Lands re the Clifton Settlement, I now have to state that the Minister informs me as follows : — A report was obtained from the supervisor with regard to the pro-posal to increase the size of the holdings, but in view of the inspcction aud report by Mr J. Smith, a cppable raember of the Otago Laad Board, to the ,effect that he had come to the conclusion that there was sufficient in each of the sections as at present constituted, to alford a good living for any man, provided the right metheds of cultivation are followed, the Beard did not see its way to make a recoia-nrndation that the settlers be granted increased areas. Mr Smith also reported that with the exception of Mr Gordon (who has done well) none of the men have eultivated more than one-fifth of their land, so they cannot say that the sections are too small. It is essential that all the old pasture should be gradually broken up, and after cropping be laid down in good permanent pasture, as at present the majority of the settlers are depending on the old pasture, and that is why they find the area they hold insufficient. Mr Begg, a successf ul farmer on a similar class of land in this locakty, staies that with a proper system of farming and rotation of fodder crops, the Clifton Settlement would carry 2^ ewes to the acre, and that the lambing should be 100 per cent. It is clear that.it is not the land which is at fault, but the methods of farming followed by some oi the men in occupation. Tho price paid for the land was very reasonable. The matter of postponement or remission of rent to help those settlers who cannot meet their liabilities is one for consideration by the Land Board, and the settlers, if they need this assistance, should individually make application to the Land Board which will consider and decide each case on its merits. — Yours faithfully, J. G. COATES.