FARM PRODUCTION

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 182, 1 May 1931, Page 10

FARM PRODUCTION

Abandoned Areas HELPING UNEMPLOYED New Scheme Prepared , READJUSTMENT OF VALUES Immediate »tej>s are to be taken by the Unemployment Board to bring the best of 400 abandoned farms throughout New Zealand into production, according to a statement made yesterday by tlie Minister of Labour, Hon. S. G. Smith, who is also chair- , man of the board • . The Minister states that owing to the magnitude of the problem presented to the board it has not had a chance to enter upon schemes for the creation of productive returns. It is contended that its latest venture will provide a direct return. Abandoned farms are to be-oc-cupied rent free for from two to five years and, in order to ensure that there will be no handicap on occupiers, who will be given the assistance of a gang of single unemployed men, land values are to be written down to present-day levels. “From its inception, it has been the settled policy and desire of the Unemployment Board,” the Minister said, “to direct and divert the unemployed into productive avenues, whereby the results of their labour might be reflected in increased production and exports of the Dominion. So far, however, the sheer magnitude of the relief to be provided has engaged the whole of the’board’s energies, and almost com; pletely absorbed its finance. Constructive Proposal. “Gradually, however, scheme 4, which provides for productive work on farms, is being developed, over 2500 additional labour having been placed on farms to date, and to-day this scheme represents a constructive phase of the Unemployment Board’s efforts. Hitherto the, scheme has operated in two different phases, as follows: — . “4a provides additional workers , on farms, under a system of wage subsidy. “4b provides for developmental work on farms, on a contract basis, a subsidy being granted of one-third per cent, of the labour cost of each contract. , “A third section, 4c, has now been , inaugurated whereby assistance is being provided for the rehabilitation and settlement of abandoned farms. This -new section, it is hoped, will result in bringing back to full production a number of farms that have been abandoned because of the drop in the prices of prim-ary-products, and in the ultimate settlement of an unemployed man and his family on each farm. “This phase of the scheme will be ? operated by "the Unemployment Board, in collaboration with the Lands Department, whose field inspectors will have general supervision over'the development .work on the farms. It has the com ; mendation ot the Minister of Lands and the approval of the Minister of Finance. Choice of Occupiers. “There are about 400 abandoned farms in the Dominion, but a number of them is not regarded as offering any prospect of successful working, and so a selection of the best will be made for testing the practicability of the scheme. The future occupiers of the farms will be chosen by district land boards from unemployed farmers, or from suitable persons with farming experience. Reports are to be supplied by departmental experts as to the quantity of material needed to effect-repairs to buildings, for fencing, etc., and as to the number of men required to put a farm info working or- , der. : 1 “When the selected occupier of a farm takes possession, the Lands Department wilt arrange with the nearest labour bureau to send to the farm a’ gang of single unemployed men who, will work under the supervision of .the future occupier. The workers will be paid £1 per week by the Unemployment Board, and will be allowed 15/- per week for board. “The farms are to be occupied rent free from two to five years, the period to’be decided by the district land board. , So that there shall be no handicap on occupiers in the . initial stage, the value of the farms is to be written down to nfesent-day value. Advances for Development. “The occupiers of these farms may also obtain from the Lands Development Board advances for the erection of buildings, or for the clearing, draining, fencing, cultivation, grassing, or general improvemeflt of the farms, including the purchasing of fencing materials, grass seed, lime, manures, implements, etc., to ’ari amount not exceeding 90 per cent, of the estimated value of the completed improvements. Discharged soldier occupiers "may obtain advances under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act, 1915, for making improvements to their farms and also for the purchase of stock and chattels. ‘‘The reclamation of these abandoned holdings will have a far-reaching effect. They have, for long periods, had a most depressing effect; from a psychological aspect, on the ’occupants of farms in theip vicinity, and they have p reived a prolific breeding . ground for ’noxious weeds, to the detriment of adjoining holdings. If the Unemployment Board’s plans result in making grass grow where now only weeds flourish, the farms will become an economic asset; but the real test of the value of the scheme will be the number of men it will take from the ranks of the non-productive unemployed and place in a position to add considerably to the volume of our. prim- „ ary products, and the area of land at present non-productive that will _be brought into profitable production. Abandoned farms contribute nothing to ' the rates, but when they are occupied and' developed they will pay their full quota of local body rates and thus share the cost of road maintenance now borne entirely by neighbouring farmers. “Assuming that the selection of the occupiers of the farms is very carefully made, and that the writing-down of value is done with due regard to present-day prices, there does not appear to be any serious obstacle to the success of the scheme. Rules Being Prepared. “The rules governing the operation of the scheme will be available in a few days,, and copies will be forwarded to all local unemployment committees. Applications from prospective lessees of the farms are to be made to the commissioners of Crown lands in the various districts. “I sincerely trust that this new developmental plan will be endorsed by the , public as a valuable contribution to efforts to check unemployment. So far the Unemployment Board has not received from farmers as much encouragement as was to be expected in connection with Its farm schemes, and it is no fault of the board’s that farmers have n'ot taken greater advantage of them, for under 4A they were offered completely free labour. The attraction of people into the country districts, in order to develop land is one of the most powerful agents in the struggle against unemployment, and the board hopes that it will have the full co-operation of farmers-generally in this latest attempt to grapple with the problem.”