COMMUNITY FARMING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 143, 19 June 1931, Page 3

COMMUNITY FARMING.

As .an engineer, one of my greatest joys is wrestling with knotty problems, und the problem of trying to find an effective cure for this country's "eeonomicitis" is a knotty one indeed. Whether my scheme has possibilities or not remains to be seen, and I have much pleaeure in presenting it to readers of the "Auckland Star." First: As America continues to impose her one-way traffic ideas to international trading, that is, sell everything and buy nothing, we should retaliate with a 300 per pent tariff on all American motor cars, talkie films, benzine, etc., etc., at present pouring into this country, and draining nearly all New Zealand's financial resources in payment thereof.. England is our best customer, and deserves all the patronage, we can afford. Second: For the present acute unemployment we should organise a system of community farming. Open up all idle Crown lands for immediate improvement for a start. When a number of suitable lota of land have been fenced and cleared, camps for parties of 100 to 200 people woulrl be built, with single men's barracks and small cottages for married people, on the same style as hydro-electric camps like Mangahao and Arapuni. The farm work to be directed by capable and sympathetic Government experts (no army sergeant-majors, thank you). Work for all trades would be created, engineers would keep the community farm machinery in order, carpenters to build sheds, cow bails, cottages, etc., etc. School teachers for the community schools, and the women to cook meals and look after the canteens. Office workers to keep check on all clothing or provisions bought and produce sent away. The produce of each community farm (after the camp has been well stocked with food) would be handed aver to the Government for disposal in the beet markets, and any profits left over after paying all farm expenses and Government administration would he equally divided amongst the members of the community farm. Even if the profits were small, everybody would at least have plenty to cat, and that goes a mighty long way towards making people happy and contented. PROGRESS.