PROBLEM OF THE LAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 302, 21 December 1935, Page 13

PROBLEM OF THE LAND.

I read with interest your leader "Farming—Next Phase" in Thursday's iseue of your excellent paper. It ehould be of particular interest to the farming community, and it is to be hoped that it will give rise to much constructive criticism of the chaotic condition of our primary industries. In view of the fact that many of our farmers cannot secure the labour necessary to the economic working of their holdings, together with hopelessly inflated land values, it is high time that the problem should be faced, and the whole structure upon which our'primary industries has been built examined thoroughly with a view to reconstruction along lines which will not only rehabilitate the farming industry as.a whole, but will induce others, particularly overseas people, to take up land in this fair country of ours. It is a difficult problem, but it is my considered opinion that it is the first of all our problems. The trend of thought to-day would appear to be "recovery in commodity prices." To just what extent the optimistic believe this "recovery will amount to is difficult to say, but ono thing is outstandingly clear; it is neither practicable nor desirable that prices ehould again eoar to the dizzy height* necessary to maintain in comfort many of our farmers who bought land at boom prices. It is my contention that the economic cost to the public of such commodities as butter, meat and wool is what the masses can afford to pay for them. It is, therefore logical to emphasise the fact tha land should be available at a price that will enable the efficient farmer to proJuce at a, reasonable profit, commodities that the working classes can afford to buy in necessitous quantities. I here are two salient factors to the economic working and development of our farm lands to-day, viz (1) high cost of land, (2) uneconomic conditions resultant on ahortage of labour. Consequent upon 3horta"o of farm labourers, farmers, in many instances, find that their holdings ire too large to efficiently work. J. his shortage of labour is likely to continue, ind there ie no need to enumerate the reasons; they are well known. Ihe remedy for this state of affairs would Appear to be the alienation of surplus ands to the Government at valuation, the Government to lease in perpetuity his land to suitable applicants. mis system would eliminate speculation in and but legislation would be necessary to prevent speculation in the good will >f such leases. If the Government ivorked along these lines it would be a tremendous inducement to many of our rounf men to take up farming, by •eason of the fact that less capita would bo required, and what capital hey did possess would bo utilised in the mrchase of stock and farming equip-nen-t instead of being swallowed up by he purchase of the land. Under our jresent freehold system and high ruling and values, with speculators ready to joost them still higher, good solid men vill not risk their capital in farming ventures, and young men of the right ;ype, with no prospect of saving enough o start on their own, will not accept arm positions. Why side-step tacts? jet us commence re-building on solid "oundation—the land. W. N. DAVIDSON,