Rural Land for Unemployed

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 167, 11 April 1932, Page 11

Rural Land for Unemployed

Sir, —I believe that the Right Hon. J. G. Coates’s scheme for the relief of unemployment is on the right lines, and even if one may not agree with every proposal in it I think it is our duty to recognise that an honest attempt is being made to solve a difficult problem, and give it every support. No criticism except of a constructive nature should be offered until it has been given a fair trial. I think that tbe policy of tbe Government should be to take advantage of these times of lower overhead charges to clean up and improve by fencing, clearing, and giving proper metalled access to all good quality Crown and private lands, including good unoccupied soldiers’ sections, thus making them iu a fit state to produce as much as possible when times improve. In the case of privately-owned lands a record of the cost of this work should be kept, and made a charge upon the owners when it is found that they have wilfully neglected them while in a position to do otherwise. I consider that Parliament should pass legislation empowering the Alinister to put men on to clear up private properties which have been neglected and allowed to deteriorate. We already have a precedent for this in tnfe operations of the rabbit boards, which have power to send men on to properties to eradicate rabbits. Wherever possible at least a part of the cost of such work should be borne by the owner or occupier. Refusal to agree to and assist in such reclamation should result in the owner or tenant being compelled to make way for someone who will treat the land properly. After being put into good order, including the erection of necessary buildings, all suitable unoccupied lands could be banded over in areas to suit the class of land being dealt with, to those workers who in their reclamation had shown the most ability and energy, assistance being given to stock the sections, married men, all other things being equal, being given preference. In a young, comparatively undeveloped country such as New Zealand, there can be no such thing as over-production: in fact, what is required to offset present low values is increased production. . I will venture to say that it should be quite easy for this Dominion by proper farming and stocking, with the assistance of the unemployment relief scheme such as I hare outlined, to. increase her output of wool, dairy produce, and moat by at least one-third. When one considered the very large area of unproductive land, the poor quality of a big proportion of the stock, and the in far too many cases almost total reliance upon the Almighty th provide autumn and winter feed under better farming and grazing conditions, and iudicious culling and replacement of stock, combined with top-dressing, I don t think this is too much to expect. In order to improve dairying methods I would suggest that a certain number of practical and successful Danish dairy farmers be induced by the Government to come out and settle in New Zealand. Those, if distributed through the various dairying districts, could by their example and advice greatly assist many of our dairy farmers, whose system would bear improvement. I fancy I can hear some farmers sav “the idea of importing Danes to teach us our job,” but it must be remembered that the Danes have been dairying under hard conditions for generations, and that they are the finest dairy farmers in the world, knowing their business from A. to Z. . I won’t attempt to go into the question of what wages should be paid lor the developmental work referred to: that of course must be governed by the state of the country’s finances. But: as far as possible encouragement should be given to the men who put >n good work. The size of camps and gangs of men should be according to the amount of work to be done, and the area to be covered. Each camp to be required to grow its own potatoes. and other vegetables, the seed being supplied by the Government. 1 think we should be thankful that our Government has at lust realised that the solution of our difficulties and the salyation of our country lies in reproductive revenue-producing work, instead ot the extravagant, self-seeking policy previously adopted. If the leaders of the Labour Party could only be brought to realise that blood can’t be got out of a stone, and that Labour like' all the rest of us has had its innings during the good times (if we failed to profit by them it is our own fault, and we must pay for it now without squealing), they would do more for their country than by opposing every move for reconstruction as they arc now doing. Political expediency has got to go by the board; in these times of stress it should be “country first.” and as this is the first New Zealand Government within my memory to be affected by the complaint of economy, our wisest plan is to let the disease run its full course, and trust that it may he contagious. _ One final word—it is my opinion that only lack of knowledge and enthusiasm on the part of those who have to carry it out and want of loyal co-operation in the various Government departments concerned iu it c|n make Mr. Coates’s scheme fail. The departments of Public v\ ones. Lands, Agriculture, and Unemployment Relief will nil have to work together m harmony. But our Government is a national one, and surely it is not too much to expect that, for the-sake of New Zealand as a whole, party and personal fee - ing will be east aside and that all will work together for the common good I would like to tell all workers that the Labour Party in the House is not going the right way to help to relieve unemployment.— 1 am, etc., ’ 5 G. F. MOORE, Busliy Park. April 4.