ACTIVE CO-OPERATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 140, 15 June 1932, Page 10

ACTIVE CO-OPERATION.

FARMERS HELPING STATE

UNEMPLOYED ON LAND. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. (•By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. Steady progress is being made with the.scheme for. placing unemployed on the; land under the small farm plan, acceding to the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, who- said in an interview to-day that reports from all parts of the Dominion showed the scheme had been taken up with enthusiasm.

"The most promising feature of all," said the Minister, "is the marked interest and active co-operation of the local committees of practical farmers. These are working with representatives of the Department of Agriculture. Usually the committees are concerned with only a small area, with which their members are thoroughly familiar, and two-or more persons act on each committee. Already, more than a thousand men ate serving and giving their help :i iid advice without cost to the State or the unemployment fund. The general nature of the plan is now pretty well understood," said Mr. Coates. "At the outset a limited amount of paid advertising was arranged. The full answer •.o any criticism then made is contained In the widespread response, and in the ■irei-tt number of offers of land which resulted,, in many cases free or at a :ioniinal rental, to the Government. Krcah this, viewpoint alone, the adverzmttg was amply justified and has more :lmh paid for itself."

Definite arrangements had been made, .-aid Mr. Coates, for some 300 cottages to :?be built, and these were being iH-ec'ted with all speed. Further orders '.veSj being placed as district officers and .ocal committees made known their requirements. Many dairy farmers were anxious to avail themselves of the opportunities offered to procure the labour. ■'..