CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 215, 11 September 1929, Page 10

CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

SOUTH ISLAND PURCHASES. CHEAPER THAN IN THE NORTH COMPULSION WHERE NECESSARY. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) . CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Speaking at a meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, the Hon. G. W. Forbes said a question affecting the South Island was the closer settlement of land. There was no doubt that there were large areas that could be more closely settled, and thus production would be increased. Some people said that the larger holdings were more profitable, as more machinery could be used, but the man with a small holding fostered the spirit of independence, and where they could stimulate that spirit it was making for the greater stability of the country. "Since the Government has been in office it has been endeavouring to purchase blocks suitable for settlement," continued the Minister, "and in this respect it has been more fortunate in the South Island than in the North. Here prices are more reasonable. The Government has already spent something like £300,000 on the purchase of land." Mr. Forbes said he hoped to obtain additional land required by voluntary purchase. The Government was quite prepared to give a fair price for land that was suitable for closer settlement, but in some cases it might be necessary to enforce the compulsory purchasing clauses of the Act. It was absolutely imperative that settlement should go ou, and where an invividual stood in the way of progress and the interests of country, that individual must be made to conform to what was in the interests of the country.