Small Holdings

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 308, 23 September 1932, Page 13

Small Holdings

Sir. —Let me congratulate Mr. A. H. Cockayne on hit; wonderful description of what can be done on a small area of ground. I can add to this by saying_a man can take £25 per acre for maize, £5O per acre for potatoes, and double from pumpkins, marrows, melons, onions, etc. I endorse Mr. Cockayne’s clause 2, “small holdings can bo made highly productive and give great scope for intensive development.” In the latter part of this, is he sarcastic? because from the class of land he is settling these men on, one block described in a newspaper “as would not graze a grasshopper,” would give great scope for intense development. The proposition as offered here is as follows: The Government will lease .(not purchase) area of land, erect buildings, but that the rental on the whole will not be more than 10/- per week. The buildings are to cost £260. This loaves £240 for the land, and tbe interest on this £240 is not to exceed 5 per cent, and the lessor has to pay rates, and taxes. For 10 acres, what class of land can be got for this money that would even partly come up to Mr. Cockayne’s description? Surely it is better to give a man 4 acres of the very best land at £6O per acre, within reach of civilisation, handy to markets, handy to casual labour employment. On this class of land the flowery ideas could be carried out—he could not only supplement his wages, but make a living—but, no, the departmental officers turn this down as too dear—they must have .10 acres—never mind the quality. Nominally 4 acres at. £60—£240 at 5 per cent., is £3 per acre, but what does the lessor get, £3; no’ Rates 5/- per acre, loss of interest on mortgage, say if mortgage only £25 per acre, loss at 1 per cent, would be 12/-, so the lessor is only getting 5 per cent, on £43 per acre. The scheme of the Minister of Employment is a good one, can be carried out. and can be made a success, if, in my opinion, the departmental officers had more sympathy with it, and some practical knowledge.—l am, etc;, .T. A. MILLER. Hastings, Seatember 15,.