A NEW SCHEME

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 298, 30 September 1935, Page 3

A NEW SCHEME

ABANDONED FARMS.

RECONDITIONING AND SETTLEMENT. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 28. A scheme which will not only provide for the utilisation of a large proportion of unemployed labour, but also recondition and salvage existing Crown securities and ultimately permanently remove from the unemployment register a considerable number of men was outlined to-day by the Minister of Lands, Sir Alfred Ransom. He pointed out that in the centre of the North Island there was a. great number of abandoned Crown sections which should and could be profitably developed provided the costs of labour and supervision were not loaded on to the land. Generally these holdings were found to he too large for the financial and practical ability- of the former holders, whereas if subdivided and developed they would provide for two or more families a better living than that obtained by the former occupied. Development and the provisions of access to these lands would provide immediate employment for .500 men, and within six months that number could be increased to 1000 or 1500. The scheme was really an extension of the Small Farms Board’s operations and could be operated under existing legislation. The securities mentioned were deteriorating and it was only a. matter of time when the Crown's mortgage interest would vanish if some action were not taken.

Sir Alfred Ransom said his proposal was to start with tiie securities the Government had on the land and recondition them with free unemployed labour, the Small Farms Board finding the capital cost for materials, etc., all the departments connected with the scheme to bear their own supervision and administration costs. “As the scheme proceeds we could arrange to take over other doubtful securities from the Mortgage Corporation. In those cases where the original settler is still in occupation of the property, he can, if he is suitable, be made foreman >n charge of the camp reconditioning the farm, and he can eventually be allotted one of the subdivisions. This would assist the present occupier whose position to-day is hopeless.” Major Benefits.

Sir Alfred Ransom said it was felt that with free labour a fair proportion of the Crown’s mortgages could be salvaged under the scheme. The major benefits would be—

(1) The immediate employment of a large number of unemployed men on definitely productive works. (2) The ultimate establishment of a large number of families on the land, such settlement commencing not later than two years from the beginning of development operations. (3) The profitable utilisation of lands which now are not only unoccupied and unproductive, but on account of the infestation of noxious weeds and rabbits are a menace to adjacent farm lands.

(4) The scheme embodies the salvaging of a large sum of public money which otherwise will be irrecoverable. {. r >) It gives assistance to existing settlers whose position is at present hopeless.