LAND POLICY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22464, 27 July 1938, Page 12

LAND POLICY

MINISTER IN DEFENCE . “WHISPERING CAMPAIGN” REPORTED ADVANCES TO SETTLERS COMPARED [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] ’ WELLINGTON, July 26. A defence of the present land policy, as an argument against the contention of the Opposition that the Government wished to create a system of State farming was given by the Minister for Lauds (the Hon. F. Langstone) when speaking in the financial debate in the House of Representatives tonight. Mr Langstone contrasted the present Government’s iand policy with that of past governments, and declared that a much saner one was being pursued to-day. ‘‘A whispering campaign is being conducted against the Government’s land policy, the Minister said, “with the cunning of the rat, with the stealth of the cat, and with the wriggle of the snake. These people are going about the country, and they leave a trail of slime wherever they go, with their rumour, innuendo, and vilification. Mr Speaker: Is the honourable Minister referring to any member of this House? . _ Mr Langstone: No, Sir. These people are outside the' House. Dealing with assistance given to. settlers under the Land Development Act, the Minister said that advances of up to 90 per cent, were made for improvements and 60 per cent, for stock. In 1933-34 there were 455 advances, comprising £184,266 for improvements and £3742 for stock; in 1934-35 33 advances, comprising £20,537 for improvements and £2OOO for stock: in 1935-36 27 advances, comprising £4357 for improvements and £1292 for stock; in 1936-37, the first year under the present Government, 494 advances, comprising £216,835 for improvements and £8597 for stock; and in 1937-38 513 advances, comprising £247,209 for improvements and £17,725 for stock. Titles Granted “How does that compare with the miserable achievements of the last Government?” Mr Langstone asked. "When confronted with what the present Government has done to encourage land settlement, its opponents can only try to scare the people. Since I have been in charge of the Lands Department a total of 5308 titles has been granted. Does that look as though the Government is taking titles away from the people?” The Minister said that since he became Minister for Lands he had experienced great difficulty in trying to straighten out some of the trouble caused by the past Government in settling men on uneconomic farms. One of the problems was that there was little land remaining in the possession of the Crown that consisted of any more than remnants, and the very people who were crying out for more people to be settled were the large landowners, who were friends of the Opposition, but would not cut up their own estates to make land available for settlement. •; Mr Langstone dealt in detail with land purchases c£ previous Governments in which he said that absolutely ridiculous prices had been paid to friends of those Governments for land which proved unsuitable for the purpose for which it was bought. He also referred to the development of marginal lands, and in later reference to land development generally said it was an increase in. production, plus an increase in the number of people employed, that was the real test of success. Mr W. J. Poison (National, Stratford): Is not the real test whether you make a profit or a loss? “We have to make up for the stupid policy of the past, and to find work tor the unemployed,” Mr Langstone said . “We are increasing production on these farms, and a livelihood is being provided for a great many more people than formerly.”