SETTLING THE LAND.

BETTER INQUIRY AWAITED.

MEN WITH CAPITAL NEEDED.

FORCING DEMAND DEPRECATED.

POLICY WITH CROWN AREAS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A statement that to force land into use when there was no demand and capital for it was simply inviting a repetition of the position which resulted from the settlement of returned soldiers was made by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. 0. J. Hawken, in the House to-day when replying to the Opposition's criticism of the Government's land settlement policy. The Minister said the demand for land was so small that even although good roaded Crown areas not in occupation had been offered free tho holdings had not been taken up. Capital was required, and that was one of the stumbling blocks.

The Minister said apparently tho Opposition forces in Parliament had not learned a lesson from the experience the country had had in the settlement of tho returned soldiers, but the Government had profited from that lesson, "We do not want to lose another £5,000,000," said tho Minister. " The land for settlement is available, and when a genuine demand comes from people with a little capital, the land will be taken up and used. But to force the land into use by settlers who have no money would result in the State facing exactly the same position as it did with tho returned soldiers."' Much Capital Necessary. While these unoccupied Crown lands were offered cheaply, and had been given away fox- nothing, there were, nevertheless, expenses which the settler had to face. Nearly all the unoccupied land would take considerable capital to bring it into profit-making use. " I believe that when a real demand for land sets in—and that is absolutely assured, because times change—the land will be taken up by those who can handle it," added Mr. Hawken. " Unfortunately, a great many people who think they can handle land take it up, and when such people take Tip land someone has to pay. We do not want to face another proposition like that of settling the returned soldiers."

The Minister expressed the opinion that nobody in New Zealand expected land would increase in value as it had done in the past. It depended upon the skill of the settler whether he " made a do of it "; the success could not depend upon any rise in value. If that skill was wanting on the part of the settler, the probability was that the settler himself would lose, and it was only natural to expect the Government would lose also. Idle lands, while they would be taken up some time, should not be forced on the market. The Labomr Problem. Mr. Hawken was supported by the Minister of Lands, Hon. A. D. McLeod. " Every endeavour has been made by Labour members to force the Government by appealing to the public and to people who know very little of the matter into a form of settlement of Crown lands," said Mr. McLeod. " That is not an economic proposition. lam satisfied the time will come when a great many of these lands will be settled. The development must be slow, however, and a great deal more will first have to be spent on the public works required." Some of the difficulties facing the prosecution of an active policy of settling Crown lands at the present time were dealt with by the Minister. "I am satisfied the labour problem is as great a factor as any in the settlement of the lands of this country," he said. " The productive capacity of the land in many cases cannot carry the costs of bringing it in. I would be the last to suggest a reduction in*wages as a means of meeting the position, but it cannot be gainsaid that much of the land which in pre-war times could be brought into profitable occupation would not be touched to-day owing to the cost of development." * Opportunity at Taupo.

The Minister expressed the conviction that the Crown areas at Taupo offered the greatest opportunity for large settlement, but before settlement could be brought about a very large public works expenditure would be necessary. When a curtailment of borrowing had to be made the Government had to decide whether the money available annually for land settlement should be used for helping thoae already on the land or for launching out in the development of country which held out very doubtful promises of economic success.

Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) : Would not a good road do better for Taupo than a railway ? The Minister: The question is quite a good one, but I hope members of Parliament do not think officers of the Public Works Department and, the Lands Department are fools. This matter was considered very carefully for two or three years, and the decision was that a railway in that class of country was ahead of a road. The decision was not made in a hurry.

YOUNG MEN IMPRISONED. CANCELLATION ADVOCATED. PETITION FROM NORTH SHORE. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A petition containing 2120 signatures of North Shore residents was presented to Parliament to-day by Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata), praying that in the case of Edward William Keymer, aged 21, John Robinson, aged 21, and Neville Clifford Moller, aged 22, who were sentenced to imprisonment by Mr. Justice MacGregor, for breaking and entering and theft, the imprisonment orders should be cancelled and the men granted probation, as had been recommended by the probation officer. The petition stated Keymer and Robinson, who were sentenced to 18 months' reformative detention, had never been in trouble before, while there was only a minor case of trouble against Moller, who was'sentenced to three years' reformative detention. Their offences were described as merely the escapades of young men who had been out of work for some time. PENSION PAYMENTS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Eleven petitions were presented to Par liament to-day praying that the amounts paid by friendly societies should not be deducted in the case of incapacitated soldier members who are in receipt of economic pensions granted for war disabilities,.