SMALL FARMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 30, 6 February 1933, Page 8

SMALL FARMS.

AID FOR UNEMPLOYED. OPERATIONS IN AUCKLAND. LARGE BLOCKS SETTLED. In • the Auckland district steady progress has been made "with the small farm scheme launched by the Government last year to relieve unemployment. Since the first sections were opened seven months ago 300 settlers have been established by State aid, and 120 more should enter on small holdings within a few weeks. It has been necessary to depart in some respects from the original idea of developing Crown lands, and the blocks which have provided the Government with the best opportunities - for helping would-be farmers. have been taken over from . private owners on a leasehold basis. The Government has entered into agreements with the owners, covering a ten-year period, with the right of purchase at the end of the leases. At the price it is willing to pay it is difficult to get sufficient land to extend the scheme as rapidly as is necessry to give definite relief to unemployment in the country, but it is hoped that it will be possible ultimately to extend operations on a large enough scale to provide for the settlement of some thousands of families. At present, therefore, the scheme can' be regarded as only in its infancy. Areas at .Dargaville., One important change made by the authorities, in turning their ideas • into practice, has been to aim at holdings much- larger than the ten acres first proposed. Areas of 50 acres are regarded now as more suitable and more likely to lead to permanent success, and in the Dargaville district two blocks, i one with eleven 50-acre farms, and the other with 21 similar properties, have been taken up recently' and are now being prepared for settlement. Fifty acres'represeiit the maximum area-which.

the Government, acting through the Unemployment Board and the Department of Agriculture, is prepared- to consider. The smallest type of holding ranges from 10 to 30 acres, and enables the occupier to milk a few cows or a small herd and to supplement his income by outside work. On sucli a Jiolcllng the capital provided by the State for improvements and the purchase of stock is limited to £250, and the average would be slightly below this figure. After a short time the new settlers have been able to maintain themselves entirely and have been given a new incentive to work. Their opportunities of securing remunerative employment in their districts, as farm labourers or in other ways, may be few at present, but in normal times thero should be a considerable amount of casual employment available for them in the country. Rural. Communities. An instance of the rural allotment scheme at work ,on a somewhat specialised basis is seen at Te Puke, where 20 holdings of ten acres each have been established. The occupiers have begun their first year by planting and cultivating about three acres of tobacco each and using the balance' of the land to provide much of the food for their families. It is too early to predict the result of tlieir efforts, but the tobacco crops have a healthy appearance and the seasonal conditions are favourable. In' contrast with the Te Puke settlement is one in , the Hokianga district, where a block of 1000 acres is now supporting 1» families, who were formerly a charge upon the unemployment fund. The Hokianga scheme has shown the wisdom of choosing men with previous farming experience. It is doubtful, however, whether there is scope for the development of rural communities" of this kind on a scale that'will meet present needs, ,and for.this reason' the Government is seeking the-co-operation'of the farmers generally to establish more individual holdings. Either 'an unemployed man may induce a farmer to lease him a piece of land "and nominate i him as the occupier to receive State assistance, or a farmer who knows of a suitable man in need of selief may suggest that he be settled on a small farm. The jresult is the same ■ whichever side takes -the -initiative. .