FARM EXPERIMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 302, 21 December 1932, Page 9

FARM EXPERIMENT.

SECURITY, OF TENURE. BANK AND SETTLERS. "CHANCE OP WINNING OUT." A novel experiment in farm stabilisation has just been initiated in. a Mallee district in Victoria. Wheatgrowers have combined in an agreement with a bank providing for security of tenure and bank supervision of a set cultural programme. » The scheme, which is directed towards a strengthening of confidence and a breakaway from reliance upon political palliatives, is described in the Melbourne "Herald" by one of the wheatgrowers concerned. There are many good farmers in the Mallee whose financial position under normal conditions was relatively sound, Imt -who,, because of depressed prices for wheat and other primary products, and consequent depreciated land Values, now hold little or no equity in their land. With a. return to evenly-balanced prices ■between primary and secondary products, however, these men will regain an equity in- their holdings and ultimately win out—a fact of much-con-cern to their bankers.

The position of these farmers to-day w precarious. At any time a possible purchaser for a block may approach the bank, and out would go the present holder, forced to leave his life's ambition when a mutual sympathetic understanding between 'bank and farmer would lave enabled him to make good again. Living under this sword of Damocles, the urge is strong to depart from good farm fE&iagement and sound rotation an effort to produce more wheat than the holding is capable of a period of yeare. Out-buildijis»-ajik.|ences-JTO-allowe4.4S-'fi^

into a state of disrepair, and. farm development is arrested. A situation thus exists that is satisfactory neither to the client nor to the bank. . . Plan ana Objective. It has now been agreed among 12 to 15 farmers, all within a, seven-mile radius, and all clients of the same bank, to take concerted action against the danger of eviction, and establish for themselves a fighting chance of winning through. Not trusting to legislative interference, and a listless waiting for better times, these men are setting out to help produce that return of confidence. Their first objective ie security of tenure for a period of, say, five years, by creatine in the bank a sound feelmg of confidence in them. This is to be brought about by all agreeing to farm strictly under the direction of a supervisor approved by the bank. Two hundred acres will be fallowed each year, 200 acres sown to oats, and subsequently 200 acres of fallow sown to wheat, with eight-horse team strengthAll cultural operations are to be started and completed by the times set by the supervisor, who will watch the efficiency of the work. Sound Knowledge. All these farmers possess sound Mallee experience. Should any dispute arise Between any of them and the supervisor on a cultural problem, the manager of the Walpeup Mallee Research Farm wil. arbitrate. Thus each man will retain hie individuality. On the other hand, the bank will have the confident knowledge that each year it will have 3000 acres of wheat farmed in a manner that will lift the standard of the whole district, and that each farmer will- havu an ample supply of hay for the timu when the drought years reappear. This collective efficiency must raise the average district yield, which, in its turn, will create sounder land values and 'bring back to the bank an equity in its securities and make the Mallee again a safe investment. The farmers will be stimulated with fresh courage, knowing that they have an assured fio-hting chance of winning out. If the scheme proves effective its success may have far-reaching effects. It may be, the way out for the soldier and ii^;Cloj^r~settler*.. ■ "- " -