ONE-MAN FARMS SOUGHT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 225, 6 July 1939, Page 8

ONE-MAN FARMS SOUGHT.

TREND IN NEW ZEALAND. AY AIKATO PROPERTIES, . The history of fanning in New Zealand reveals, a steady, progress in the subdivision of. large estates into smaller holdings, and through the years the trend has been toward still smaller farms, says the "Auckland Weekly News.” This movement has been considerably accelerated at certain periods by legislation, for it was early realised that the former big holdings were uneconomic from a national point of view and that the welfare of the country demanded closer settlement which could be effected only through the cutting up of the large estates. The movement has continued with little check right up to the present day, and it is appar- ; cut that it is now receiving a further stimulus as a direct result of one of the farming industry’s major problems, namely, that of securing farm labour. More attractive wages and conditions in secondary industries and public works lias materially quickened the drift of labour from the land, and one solution of the problem that lias presented itself is the smaller farm. The probability of the small farm playing a greater part in the country’s economic life lias been demonstrated in the Waikato during the past year. The inquiry for farm properties during this period has been characterised by tlie demand for small farms; properties small enough to bo farmed by the owner himself without the aid of additional labour. Many! such farms have changed hands recently at figures ■ that, on a comparative basis, are considerably better than the values realised for larger properties.