GROUP SETTLEMENT

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 257, 26 July 1930, Page 8

GROUP SETTLEMENT

Feasible Plan Wanted WAIRARAPA VIEWS Masterton, July 25. The question of the practicability of the group method of closer settlement being carried into operation in the Wairarapa district was fully discussed at today’s meeting of the Wairarapa Progress League, when the following resolution was passed: “That the fullest publicity be given to the group method of closer settlement, and that it be advertised that the league was establishing a confidential register of those willing to enter into group settlement.” The president, Mr. W. L. Free, said that this subject had been discussed on several occasions by the council, and their past president, Mr. D. McGregor, had often expressed surprise that the local land agents had not contrived to organise groups. Mr. Free said that Wairarapa was favourable for closer settlement, and stated that the matter was one which should be taken up by the League. His idea was to offer a bonus to the first land agents to establish group settlement. There was, howevr, one difficulty, and that was getting men with £5OO or more who wished to go on the land. ' What they should do was to compile a register of those who wished to, go on the land, and then they could approach the land agents and offer the bonus for the first group formed and a smaller, one for the second.

Mr. G. H. Perry jokingly said that if they could get men, the land agents would pay them the bonus. Mr. R. J. King thought they should not submit names to the land agents, but carry out the scheme themselves. He doubted the wisdom of thrusting them on to the land agents. Mr. Free said that it was more advantageous to deni through the land agents. The Lands Department kept a strict control on the matter of this' form of closer settlement, and they were not thrusting them on the mercy of land agents. The league was there to foster private enterprise, not to indulge in it. After discussion the resolution was passed.