PRIMARY PRODUCERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 142, 15 June 1917, Page 7

PRIMARY PRODUCERS.

INCREASING THEIR NUMBERS. HAWKE'S BAY SCHEME. A scheme for increasing the number of primary producers in New Zealand has been started in the Hawke's Bay district. The .scheme is known as the !" Nat Beamish National Development .Scheme." -and it is proposed to acquire a property, to be approved by three fanners and one Government nominee, in each province, to be paid for by tho Ciovciimient by issuing negotiable paper at 4* to fi per cent clear of taxation. The class of land to be acquired would inclueli' sheep, cattle, and dairy land, anil orchards am! orchard land. It is proposed al— to establish jam factories woollen factories, bacon factories, soapworks, paper mills. u nd other industries in the different centres, in which the employees shall lihare profits, the working capital to be provided privately, repayment and interest to be- guaranteed by the Stale. In the case of sheep country that i s improved to the extent of carrying one sheep to tlie acre, it is proposed to allow, say, SIH) sheep per settler, including the hind, 500 acres, and sei on, according to quality and carrying capacity. For dairying it is proposed tei allow -io to .'ill cows per man, and for orchard purposes from It) to 12 acres per man. The men in each settlement would work under a competent manager, and would rei-eive a wage of. say. £_ 10/ per week, with a free cottage for married men and a maternity allowance lor every child born. The Hastings Borough Council is supporting the proposal, and wrote, to the t ity Council last evening asking its co-operation. 'lhe communication was received.