ECONOMICAL LAND SETTLEMENT.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20621, 10 August 1932, Page 8

ECONOMICAL LAND SETTLEMENT.

TO THE BEITOB 0* TBR FKCSS Sir,—l would like to mention a few apparently weak spots in Mr Tripp's land settlement scheme. By creating a market for properties -which can be bought at the priee of the mortgage, many of our farmers would be placed in a perilous position. It is only the absence of such a market that in many cases is keeping them on their holdings. Then again, these properties, even under different ownership would still carry the same mortgage, that has forced them on to the market. Under closer, settlement, there would be n further loading through capital expenditure on buildings and other improvements. Should arrears cf interest be capitalised, this would mean a further burden. It must also be remembered that these properties are at present being farmed under adverse conditions through restricted finance. On that account, not only the buildings would to some extent be getting out of repair, but the land itself would probably be getting into a condition which would be a considerable handicap to those going in. However, a land scheme of some kind is needed. Possibly to extend the ten acre plan would be the easiest way to arrange it. That scheme has one good feature, namely, that the Unemployment Board finds the money for building a house. This would allow a man to use'his capital, should he have any, for other purposes. Should nothing eventuate during Grand National Week, the question of land settlement could be gone into at the conifcrence which is being arranged b the South Canterbury Executive of the Union. One matter to be discussed at that conference is the extension of those primary industries whose expansion would lead to more employment. The dairying and wheat industries answer to this description. Owing to the depletion of the flocks of the Dominion it should be possible to extend the dairying industry. Co-opera-tive organisation is another matter' to be brought up at the conference. The wheat, pig, poultry, and flour-milling industries have been mentioned in this connexion. By including the dairying industry and with the pig industry as a connecting link between, the dairying and wheat industries, a group, consisting of five industries, would be formed, lending itself to co-operative organisation. Any extension of dairying would lead «to an increase in the other industries which form the partnership. A land settlement scheme would be required to put this into effect. It should, however, be one which would form a part (but not a whole) of a well arranged plan, the aim of such plan being to place more people on land, increase the volume of our exports, eliminate unemployment, and restore prosperity in some measure to New Zealand. — Yours, etc., MACDQNALD< Fairlfe, August Bth/ 1932.