SUCCESSFUL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 81, 6 April 1933, Page 14

SUCCESSFUL.

APPEAL IX)R £10,000.

WAIKATO LAND SCHEME.

SETTLING UNEMPLOYED.

The appeal for funds made by the Waikato Land Settlement Society for-the scheme inaugurated iby Mr. D. V. Bryant, of Hamilton, for the settlement of unemployed on the land, has been successful. A sum of £10,000, subscribed Iby the public, was needed in order to comply with the terms under which the Auckland Savings Bank offered a gift of £10,000 to the society's nucleus fund. The amount promised now totals £10,712 5/6. Of this sum, £10,285 12/ has been, collected.

Mr. Bryant intends now to go to Wellington, where he will try to come to' an arrangement under which unemployed relief workers will be employed on the initial work of forming farms. The aim is that the men should be paid a sustenance allowance by the Unemployment Board until the farms are returning a profit. Directors will then be appointed, the Auckland Savings Bank reservmg tlie right to nominate one. - Then the society will be registered. When the directors are appointed they will assume full responsibility for the scheme, ir "I am immensely satisfied with the success of the scheme," said Mr. Bryant, "A large number of unexpected donations have come to hand during the last few days, and although many of these are e-mail, they are greatly' appreciated. When the scheme is, ready, applications [from unemployed men will be invited."

"Remarkable Success." At a meeting of the board of trustees of the Auckland Savings Bank yesterday, advice was received that Mr. Bryant had been successful in securing the £10,000. It wae. decided to apply to the Government for permission to pay over the £10,000 promised by the bank. "Mr. Bryant has rendered a very great public service," said Mr. H. E. Vaile, the chairman, "It is remarkable that, his campaign, especially in times like this, has been successful. I hope that the scheme will turn out aa well as Mr. Bryant anticipates."

Outline of Scheme. Briefly, Mr. Bryant's scheme- is to secure a large block of land and have it surveyed into perhaps 40 farms, none of which will contain less than 50 acres. A central "camp will be set up and applications will be received from unemployed carpenters and other tradesmen to build the houses and . sheds required on the farms. These men will be given their meals by the Land Development Society and, 'by arrangement with the Government, will receive the ordinary relief ratea of pay. When the houses are ready, these men and their families will be drafted, into them to carry on development work on tho sections. About 60 young men, for preference those -with an aptitude for country work, will ,be drafted into the central camp.. Those in the houses or in the central camp will carry on the development of the whole area on a communal (basis,; . A paid supervisor and other experienced men who vfill act in a voluntary capacity will give'the new farmers advice and training. As the young men become . efficient, rt is expected that the directors will be able to place a number of them in permanent positions "with farmers, and their places will be filled by others , from tho towns. By the time the farms are in thorough order, the men will have gained considerable experience, apd the directors will 'bo in a position to judge who are the most likely to tura out successful farmers.'' The most likely men will have farms allotted to them as they become ready. If necessary, this will be done by ballot, and supervision will be continued as long as considered necessary. The men will bo asked to pay only fi per c«)t interest on the land and on the atock and a small sinking fund.' Until the men are thoroughly established, the directors will retain control.