LAND SETTLEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 306, 27 December 1928, Page 6

LAND SETTLEMENT.

It was with great pleasure I read the two* very interesting articles on this most vital subject in recent issues of the "Staur." are, as your writer stated, many potentially good small farmers who would -gladly go on the land and for a few years put up witht just a bare living if they had the prospect of the freehold in the near future. Good men are* hampered by want of sufficient capital to give* them a fair start. Just here is where the Gov-, ernment eould assist by adopting the groups or zone system outlined by you. For several; years official opposition, indeed, hostility, to> settlement in the pumice country has been barrier to its occupation. As a proof of howjbaseless such hostility is, I may quote just two* instances among very many of successful farnjv ing in this much-maligned district. Afc Putaruru one farmer started on 150 acres leased from the Government on 0.R.P., or leas 4 in perpetuity, I am not sure which, with a, capital of three shillings after having paid tq& first half-year's rent in advance. How hft worked himself into a position of independence,, indeed, I may say of comparative affluence, in. a few years would make interesting readings but it is too long for your columns. Starting without any knowledge whatever of fanning* he is now one of the best farmers in that district and a competent judge of Jerseys. Tbft other case is that of a farmer on the Rotorua-. Atiamuri Road. The unbroken country all round him is as unpromising looking as could, well be imagined, but in spite of that he has established as good a farm as one could seek in a day's travel. Root crops are as good as. could be seen in much richer-looking land. For several years I have advocated the group system of breaking in that country. Let the, State acquire the land—if it does not at present own it—and put men on to break it in, sa«V under the supervision of some locally successf\3| farmer, build comfortable little houses, and. when all is complete put it up for The sections could vary in size, from one huni«dred to, say, two hundred acres, the land t<* be loaded with the cost of seeding, manuring fencing, roading and building, the terms, which, should be the subject of arrangement, to be* of such an easy nature as to make it possible; for good men of limited means to get a good start. It is much to be regretted that LordL Lovat wag taken through the country at such, a rapid rate that he had no opportunity of seeing for himself what can be done with such, land. If British farmers, practical men, saw what I have just stated a report from them, would be a great stimulus to men of moderate means to come and settle here, where the prospects and climate are much better than thos* in Great Britain. R. W. ROCHE.