SMALL FARMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 6, 8 January 1934, Page 3

SMALL FARMS.

COAST SETTLEMENTS.

ENCOURAGING PROGRESS.

INSPECTION BY MB, COATES. A personal inspection of the two coastal settlements founded under the small farms scheme, with the aid of the Unemployment Board, was made on Friday by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, who hnd with him the chairman of the Small Farms Board, Mr. W. B. Robertson, the Commissioner of Small Farms, Mr. O. N. Campbell, the Commissioner of Crown Lands for North Auckland, Mr. W. D. Armit, the district engineer for the district, Mr. R. Ronayne, and Dr. R. M. Campbell, private secretary ■to the Minister. Wilson's was the first settlement visited, and later in the afternoon the party 'motored to Bassetfs, below Te Kopiiru. The Minister and party went to many of the holdings, and later met the settlers in a group at each settlement, when a round table conference was held with the Departmental heads. The discussions chiefly concerned the questions of tenure, whether the holdin 2s will be loaded with the whole of the costs of establishment, and who is to be responsible for the -cost of maintenance of the water supply at each camp. The water in each settlement _is pumped by an oil engine to holding tanks and reticulated through pipes to the individual farms. In the case of Wilson's th» houses are being reticulated, ami settlers at Bassett's are asking for the same service. The west coast wind, which quickly damages metal fencing, water pipes, tanks, etc., do not last more than a few years. Cost of the Development. Then there was the question whether the Department will provide the money for the breaking up and laying down in permanent pasture of the remaining 35 acres of the holdings of about 50 acres, 15 of which were put down last autumn. On both settlements the. settlers are with a measure of success engaged in dairying. The dry weather has, however, found them, as is the case on most newly established farms, without a supply "of supplementary fodder, hay or ensilage, to carry the herds over the dry months of January and February. * The Department has on each holding prepared and drilled in about half an acre of soft turnips and a similar area of swedes. In the case of Wilson's, the last to be put down, the crops are light, but at Bassett's the crops are making an excellent showing, and are almost ready to feed out. Maize, where sown, is growing well. Another point raised by the settlers was that of their sustenance and the manner of payment. It has been necessary for them, in order that they may complete the necessary forms, to journey to Danraville or Te Kopuru, some 14' or 16 miles. As their returns from cream cheques have increased, so automatically have their sustenance payments decreased. Some have been eliminated. The settlers asked that the drop in returns through the loss of milk in the dry spell owing 'to their position be reconsidered by the Department. Sustenance and Tenure. Replying, Mr. Coates said that he would arrange for an officer of the Unemployment Board to look into the question of sustenance, and to ascertain whether it would be possible to alter the requirements in regard_ to forms, for he realised that such a journey, sometimes made upon f*ot, meant a "whole day away from work. The policy of the Department, said Mr. Robertson, was that the settlers shall enjoy either the freehold or the leasehold tenure, whichever the settler preferred. The cost of the individual holdings could be given them at any time, but personally he would prefer that, before seeking to individualise their holdings, they should wait until the settlements were more fully developed. At Wilson's Mr. Coates said that the authority for the school had been received. While the party was at Bassett's the first load of timber arrived on the site of the school, which is to be erected by the contractor for the Auckland Education Board. The cost is in the vicinity of £580. Speaking at Bassett's, Mr. Coates paid a tribute to the local committee, Messrs. T. Woollams, J. H. Stubbs and P. W. Hill, who had recommended the establishment of these settlements on the coast country. Mr. Woollams, who was present, at the invitation of Mr. Coates, undertook to act in a local advisory capacity in regard to the further development of the block, and on behalf of the Small Farms Board Mr. Robertson readily accepted the offer, which met with the entire approval of the settlers present. A conference was subsequently held by Departmental heads, the settlers and Mr. Woollams in regard to future policy. "Making G00d. ,, In taking his farewell, Mr. Coates expressed himself as being highly gratified with the advance made by the settlers and their families upon both blocks. They were, he said, successfully surmounting the difficulties of the initial period, when other disadvantages •had been accentuated by abnormally low prices. There was no doubt whatever that the settlers would make good. On the return journey a halt was made at Mr. T. Woollams' (Redhill) property, consisting of country similar to the Bassett's block, which is two miles away. Here on 80 acres a dairy herd of 49 cows is being milked, and the owner states that the drop in milk yield, through the {try spell, on this type of country has been less than from his other herd, which depastures on the rich river flats at Tatarariki. Several <rood-sized haystacks have been made during the summer, and on this and adjoining properties the party saw flourishing crops of maize, turnips, potatoes and artichokes, etc. Mr. Woollams uses about 21cwt of topdressing per acre per annum,-and altogether speaks in most enthusiastic terms of the future prospects of this class of land for dairy and cropping purposes. No "Grousers." Vegetable gardens established by the smallholders are, considering their difficulties, and the short time they have been on the properties, a credit to them. The settlers drawn from all parts of Ihe province—about one-third locally— are of a most cheerful disposition, and no where during the tour of the Minister was there any tendency to grouse, all l:ein<r anxious to make the best of their siurmindings, which, in their opinion, are much preferable to the lot of the relief workers, of which they themselves have all had experience,