UNEMPLOYMENT.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20713, 25 November 1932, Page 21

UNEMPLOYMENT.

FARM DEVELOPMENT 1 SCHEME. i TALI ABLE RESULTS CLAIMED. ! The Unemployment Board's farm development scheme, known as No. 41!. is regarded by practical men as one of the most valuable, from a national point of view, of' all the plans devised for increasing production and at tho same tune placing unemployed men in useful occupation. - The 4B is a scheme for providing subsidised labour oil ;>, contract basis, tho labour to bo utilised strictly for work of a developmental character on faring. Tho work that may be undertaken under this scheme consists of buskfelling, scrubcuttiug, rush-grubbing, stumping and logging, drainage on farm lauds, euttiug new drains and improving existing drains, fencing and ploughing virgin land, and developmental work of a similar nature. Towards the labour cost, of such work the Unemployment Board now pays a subsidy of 50 per cent, (formerly ?<o .1-3 per cent,'', and the fact that more than 2000 farmers have arranged contracts under the scheme is an indication that its value is realised. The actual figures for the scheme up to .November 15th are as follows:- !

Applications approved . . 2.0;-',O Men employed . . ■I.Pw'JS Subsidies' . . £45,000 Valuable Work Done. following are details of some ot the work accomplished as a result of this expenditure of money and human energy:- — .Acres. Flush-felling ... ... 18.68:2 Stumping and logging, ... 6,084 Scrub-cutting ... ... G.'kloi) Ploughing, virgin land ... 2,631' Gruhhing ... ... 6,170 Chains. Fencing ... ... 30,712 Draining contracts 25,308 Heading ... ... 1.000 Other Work. Post-splitting for fencing ... ,'j.j,ooo .Battens ... ... 143,000 Already the effects of this remarkable farm-development campaign are noticeable, in the largely-increased carrying capacity of most of the holdings where contracts under 4B have been carried out,-., and it now appears to be beyond question that the Dominion's primary products will be- considerably augmented as a result. The areas already mado available aro expected to carry approximately 90,000 additional sheep and 22,000 extra cattle. Gratifying though this-aehievemerit is, another result that is even more- satisfactory is the placing in employment of over 4000 men and the probability that many of them will remain permanently on the land Increased Applications. The increase in the Unemployment Board's subsidy front 33 1-3 per cent. to 50 per cent, of the labour cost of each • contract has greatly stimulated applications by farmers for assistance in having developmental work carried out by contract. Farmers are urged by the Board to use every endeavour to take advantage of the opportunities offered under this scheme. The necessary forms of application are available at post offices, Government Labour Bureaux, offices of the Lands ami Survey Department, and from local unemployment committees. If the fullest advantage is taken of this scheme it appears probable that many thousands of acres of now idlo land will be brought into profitable occupation. The Unemployment Board is asking for the assistance of landholders who are prepared to expend monev and so tend to conserve the Board's funds.