LAND SETTLEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 282, 27 November 1940, Page 3

LAND SETTLEMENT.

NEW OUTLOOK URGED. MORE DIVERSIFIED FARMING. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The suggestion that the Government should adopt a new outlook regarding land settlement and aim at diversification of farming rather than at increasing the production of primary products which are already being produced in New Zealand, wa» made by Mr. Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn), when the Small Farms Amendment Bill was being debated in the House of Representatives last night. Mr. Lee also suggested securing land by enabling' the owner concerned to free the remainder of the land from debt. He pointed out that the war was forcing 7>rimarv producing countries to manufacture and manufacturing countries of Europe to enlarge primary production and said that no one could say whether or not there would be a market for increased production of (butter, cheese and wool after the war. Instead of increasing the number of producers of these commodities the Government tion more diversified. New Zealand could produce articles which are at present imported, such as olives, sugar, linen and the like, and the Government should consider turning soldier settlers to such production. On the question of securing land for settlement, Mr. Lee said that many landowners had more land than they could use efficiently and if the Government asked for offers of surplus land in exchange for mortgage, an arrangement that would enable a farmer to free the rest of his land from debt over a period of years, he believed all the land required would be secured. Mr. Lee also declared that he was not concerned about leasehold or freehold. What was wanted in New Zealand was "debt-free hold land." If a farmer wanted the freehold of his land he should be allowed to acquire it, but the best tenure was one that required a man to use the land he occupied.