SMALL FARMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 23, 28 January 1937, Page 9

SMALL FARMS.

AID TO SETTLERS.

GENEROUS ASSISTANCE.

MINISTER MEETS CRITICS

IBy Telegraph.—Own Correnpondent.)

KAITAIA, this day.

In visiting various settlements in the North the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone, .is making himself thoroughly conversant with the problems facing the men who were placed on the land as an unemployment relief measure. The blocks allocated are in varying stages of development, and in many instances are not far enough forward for the occupiers to stand alone. So assistance is being given by wav of sustenance from the Employment Promotion Fund.

Wherever the Minister makes an inspection of a block he holds a roadside conference with the eettlers and hears their troubles. He has shown great patience, and listens attentively and without the slightest sign of irritation when even the most trivial matters are brought forward. Wherever he has beeii the same request has been made, that titles be granted after two years of occupation. He stated emphatically to-day that the titles would not be given until the development was completed and all the charges were known. Not Tied to Land. When the Minister was confronted by a settler who said he had a wife and eight children, and suggested that if the land was not to be handed over to the settlers they would be better off wotking as labourer*, the Minister said that it was open to the men to go off the properties if they wished, but the Government was doing everything possible to assist them. It wonted to see the men make a success of the farms. They were tenants without the documents at the moment. Thrift and Spending. When an interjection was made that a labourer was able to save something from his pay if he were in constant work, the Minister said that national thrift meant national poverty. If the earners did not spend the sellers could not sell, and stagnation and unemployment resulted. A man on ordinary labouring work was in a different position from the' settlers under the small farm scheme, for Whom thousands of pounds had been expended in the purchase of land, in improvements, buildings, manures, grasses, etc. "You need not worry about your titles," be added. "The titles will not be granted until the valuations have been made, and the properties are sufficiently developed to enable the tenants to earn a decent livelihood.