DEVELOPING LAND

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 288, 1 September 1931, Page 5

DEVELOPING LAND

Intensive Farming Plan “GIVING BETTER LIVING” Dominion Special Service. Woodville, August 29. “The question of the outlying districts has always given me serious thought, stated the Hon. A. E. Ransom, Minister of Lands, at a gathering which followed the official opening of the new bridge over the Manawatu River at the Woodville end of the Gorge. “There are vast areas to be developed, and during the time I have been Minister of Lands 130,000 acres of what was formerly waste country have been brought into production. The problem that had to be faced was one of increased production, and it is authoratively indicated that we cannot hope for an early or immediate reversion to the prices which have ruled for a period of years. Therefore the primary producer, to succeed, must aim at increased production at a lower market value, in which direction good progress is already being made. “Although success has already attended the efforts of the farmers in this connection, there are still further advances to be made in attaining this object. There can be intensive farming under the rotational grazing system, which has been made possible for the farmer by the experiments of the Agricultural Department.” . ~ . V “Under the new system farms that have previously supported one family can now support three families and give them a better living. The Lands Department has several blocks in process of preparation for settlement and in the centre of each block a demonstration farm is being established to indicate what can and should be done on farms. .As soon as the settlers are installed on the farms a good class of stock with pedigree grass seed only would - be supplied and the farmer-would be set off in small holdings that will enable them to. make. good. The Economic Committee .now, sitting -is giving more consideration to, the rehabilitation of the farmer than to anything else.