LAND SETTLEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 285, 1 December 1932, Page 10

LAND SETTLEMENT.

WAIKATO SCHEME. EXCELLENT PROGRESS. CHOICE OF THE FARMERS . Excellent progress Is being made in the Waikato land settlement plan. Mr. D. V. Bryant, of Hamilton, who is the promoter of the scheme, stated, to-day, that only £1.300 remained to be subscribed by the public in order to reach the total of £20,000 that was necessary to put the scheme on a workable basis. When the financial scheme has been completed the sum of £1000 will be added by the Auckland Savings Bank. It is proposed to take an area in the Waikato of some 2000 acres, to survey it and to lay it out in sections suitable for small farms. A central camp is to be established for carpenters, plumbers and other craftsmen, and, after the houses have been built ou each of the sections, a representative board of directors will decide the most likely men to become efficient farmers. From a number of 20 a ballot will be taken for the best ten sections, but the remaining ten will remain on the estate. "We propose to 'wean , the first ten," said Mr. Bryant, "and to allow them facilities for sale and purchase, based on the productive values of their holding*, not on the market value. The labour we propose to employ will be done by men who otherwise would be idle. We shall act as their bankers, and they will only be charged five per cent on land and stock, with a email sinking fund." Mr. Bryant said the scheme was not one which would appeal to "wasters," but that it would appeal to workers. Even though the men were still receiving sustenance from the Government they would be engaged on productive work, and it was -hoped and confidently believed that the great majority would devote their full energies to their work. The scheme would help production, and also assist secondary industries on account of the materials which would be used.