SLOWING DOWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 217, 12 September 1936, Page 13

SLOWING DOWN.

SMALL FARMS SCHEME.

MINISTER REVIEWS PROGRESS

larger holdings wanted.

(By Telegraph.— Special Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, Friday. A slowing-down in the development of the small f a r ms scheme is disclosed m the annual report of the Lands and Survey Department, tabled in the House of Representatives to-day by the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Lan~stone. °

'Ten! ™ the number of settleis established under the scheme and additional development works commenced, states the report the progress recorded in the previous ycai has not been maintained. Factors retarding the scheme are the increasing difficulty of obtaining suitable lands fiom pnvate sources, the increasing cost of many commodities, particularly building materials, which renders it more difficult to establish and equip new holdings at a cost within the limit of £1200 a man settled, and an inability toward the end of the year ended March 31, 1936, to obtain sufficient men to carry out the developmental works. Camps were established on certain blocks in the King Country, but they had to be dismantled owing to a. shortage of men. Some of the workers also left their work to obtain other positions carrying higher rates of pay. Valuable Farm Training. "As regards works already in hand," the report continues, "the progress made has been gratifying in all districts. Wliilo development work is proceeding tlio various blocks are farmed on a large scale; In many cases the farming returns have shown a good profit, after allowing for interest on purchase price of land and stock and on capital expenditure on buildings -and development work. Another good feature of the farming policy is the training which the men receive in all branches of the work. This should prove of great value to them when they take over the management of individual sections." Reviewing operations under the original scheme, consisting mostly of five-acre to ten-acre sections, the report reveals that 488 holdings were established and of these 109 had since been closed. Since the inception of the Small Farms Board 364 full-time holdings were established and sections included in blocks under development totalled 583. Some Men Resume Trades. The total expenditure from the inception of the original scheme to March 31, 1935, amounted to £516,304 and the expenditure from April 1, 1935, to March 31, 1936, was £146,480, making a grand total of £662,844. Of the men established under the original five or ten-acre scheme a fairly large percentage had found that there was little hope of permanency and they had left, fortunately,' in some cases, to take up employment in their former trades. Of the remainder the majority should bo successful. This view was supported by the numbers who no longer required the sustenance allowance. The larger holdings established by the Small ; Farms Board sliould prove satisfactory, except in a few isolated instances. Numbers of settlers would require .no further assistance State and their future seemed assured, Jlparticularly with guaranteed prices for their dairy produce.. . Since the...ineep- - of the scheme' 722 men had r freaft in receipt of sustenance allowance, blit at March 31, 1936, only 144. were drawing sustenance. .-..V'.V