LAND SETTLEMENT.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXI, Issue 10905, 3 September 1932, Page 2

LAND SETTLEMENT.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Since Mr Watkinson’s land settlement scheme was presented to the Chamber of Commerce meeting little has been heard relating to it. I for one expected quite a lot of correspondence in your valued paper on the matter, and as one very interested in the scheme would like to start the ball rolling, if we can get good, sensible suggestions or criticisms. The principal item is that of sustenance while getting the farms down in grass, and the £1 17s 6d per week would not be wasted, as it is on some of the work carried on under the No, 5 scheme. As each settler will, or hopes to, pay for his farm, he should be allowed to pick his own section where possible, and balloting be resorted to when several want the same section; and the settler should be given the opporunity to work his farm with as little supervision as possible. Of course some applicants wil Itake a lot of watching, but give each man the chance to prove his worth before the enthusiasm Is killed by tieing him down too much.

Another item, £2O for tents and £SO for cow shed. Shouldn’t these be reversed? £SO for dwelling and £2O for cow shed. Personally I should like to have the £SO to provide a dwelling with reasonable comfort for the first three years. The area of the farms should vary. I myself would prefer 100 acres while others would be satisfied with 50 acres. Perhaps it is too early to offer suggestions until the Lands Department give an indication how they will accept the scheme, but I sincerely hope that the scheme will mature in the very near future, and thus put a few of us off the labour market with a reasonable chance of making good.—l am, etc., “A TRYER.” Tauranga, September 2, 1932.