ECONOMICAL LAND SETTLEMENT

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20623, 12 August 1932, Page 18

ECONOMICAL LAND SETTLEMENT

TO THE EDITOB OF THE PJIESS. Sir,— -Having read Mr Bernard Tripp's letter in The Press of August sth on the above subject, might I express an opinion? Practically all New Zealand's wealth comes from the land, and seeing we havo more economists thau land men, is it not time something more was done from the.ground floor of the land business. I would suggest dealing first with the land. The monetary system could be dealt with later, because the monetary system is uiuallv responsible for over-balancing tho land system, resulting in primary production* being curried on at a loss. The trouble from which New Zealand is suffering commenced long ago, and the root of this trouble is tho land. Too much use has been made of capital for land settlement, while thrift, energy, and practical knowledge have boeu at a discount. Dealing with the land when the season is half gone (as

is usually the case under the Government control) has cost this Dominion more than most people realise. 1 would suggest that the quickest way to get the country back on to its feet will be to begin at the bottom and build up by assisting the man of small means "to get on the land. There is no reason why a scheme such as Mr Tripp suggests should not bo tried out, as it would be an inexpensive experiment, and might bo the cause of saving the mau with small means from drifting inLo the ranks of the unemployed. It would also help to increase bulk production, which gives more labour to both town and country, and from which men and women must directly mid indirectly benefit. If a scheme, as suggested, should be brought into operation, the time to act is now, not when the season is half gone. It is not so much the- matter of money that counts in a new system; it is a matter of lending the way to enable men to get small farms. I would suggest small farms of 50 to 100 acres, according to quality of the land, and if the Government cannot finance the scheme to purchase the property., or secure the interest, they might finance on the same lines as the five and 10-acre scheme, erect a 6hack, and ring-fence it. Regarding finance, there is enough borrowed money on tho land to do for three generations. It is now a question of adjustment of mortgages, to save the mortgagor as far as possible from ruin, without unnecessary loss to tho mortgagee, and prevent those with energy and small capita! from drifting to the bottom. In conclusion, T would say that more good can be done by building up the small m:in thnn dragging the bigger man down.—Yours, etc.,

TRUTH!S M. MUNUO. Timaru, August 11th. 1932.